Redefining motherhood

de Sharon Abbey, Andrea O'Reilly

Twenty-three women, teaching at colleges and universities throughout Canada, explore how traditional views of motherhood have been influenced by changing social and cultural conditions. Their essays unravel patriarchal constructions of motherhood and re-present new definitions drawn from women's lived experiences. "Redefining Motherhood is a welcome, lively and challenging addition to the ongoing feminist conversation about mothering. Eighteen powerful essays challenge the familiar cultural image of the "good" mother. Showing how constricting and damaging the stereotype is, the contributors replace an unreal, narrow ideal with the complexity and diversity of real mothers' lives. Drawing from their broad range of experiences, the writers show the many and varied ways in which women are transforming motherhood." --Maureen Reddy, co-author of Narrating Mothers: Theorizing Maternal Subjectivity and co-editor of Mother Journeys: Feminists Write about Mothering.