User:FloNight/Sociology of motherhood

The sociology of motherhood studies the social expectations, experiences, and structures associated with being a mother. The sociology of motherhood became a focus of feminist research beginning in the 1970s with childbearing, childrearing, and motherwork becoming an area of sociological academic interest.

History

Worried mother with ill child.

Until the 1970s motherhood was primarily viewed as a natural biological event instead of being socially constructed so it was seen as being outside the usual areas of sociological inquiry. The first topics of study were related to other areas of sociology research such as juvenile crime and divorce which continued to emphasize the naturalness of motherhood as the social norm. The sociology of motherhood became a focus of feminist research beginning in the 1970s with childbearing, childrearing, and motherwork becoming an area of sociological academic interest. More recently, mothering and motherhood have become the subjects of an expanding body of literature. Examining the differing conceptualizations of motherhood about and by races and ethnic groups is a common topic of the work. Some other topics of study include maternal well-being, maternal satisfaction and distress.

Ideology and construction of mothering

Three generations of mothers and a baby from the fourth generation.

The existence of different historical and cultural variations of mothering confirms that it is socially constructed and not solely a biological inborn function. Examining the relationship between economic, political, and social changes and changes in mothering shows how ideology effects motherhood.

See also

• Mitochondrial Eve
• Mother's rights
• Sociology of fatherhood
• Women's health
• Women's movement
• Women's studies

Further reading

• Hays, Sharon. 1998. The cultural contradictions of motherhood. New Haven: Yale University Press.