In previous videos I have discussed the myths of motherhood, the expectation that women will be intensive mothers, and the damaging concept of ‘mother blame‘. In this extended video I build on each of these ideas about mothering to consider how and why we expect women to put their children first. I explore the history of this social and cultural expectation and the continuing detrimental consequences for women.
Tag: Feminist theory
Why are mothers to blame for everything?
When women have ‘problems’ or ‘fail’ as mothers, or children are seen to be ‘problems’, it is often women, the mother, who is blamed. Why is this? Why do we blame mothers? What is mother blame? What impact does it have on women and their families? Why does society blame women when they or their children face difficulties and hardships? Find out in this video.
What does it mean to be an intensive mother?
Today, to be considered a ‘good’ mother, a woman needs to be an ‘intensive mother’. What does this mean? And what is the impact of intensive mothering ideology on women? Find out in this video.
Why do mothers have to be perfect?
To be a ‘good’ mother a woman has to be perfect, right? That’s what society tells us. How should we understand this belief in the need for perfection? Where does it come from? I unpack this idea in this video by explore the ‘myths of motherhood’ and by starting to think about the impact these myths have on women.
Dr Emma Milne 