Conference on mothering

Hi,

Just a note to let you know that an Australian branch of the Association for research on mothering has been established and there is a forthcoming conference at Qld Uni in July 2007 - see site for more details: http://www.uq.edu.au/mothering/

Also, link to the Assocation for research on mothering, York university, Toronot - very active - loads of conferences, journal and books published see: http://www.yorku.ca/crm/index.htm

its great to talk but there are also some wonderful books out there - and you wouldn't know by just walking into a bookshop - will post some titles at a later date that members may like to follow up - some personal favourites at least - also good to look out for relevant movies .....

all the best, Ginalol

Last edited by ginalol : 07-01-2007 at 06:39 PM. Reason: advice re protocol

  #2      

Quote upon quote...

This would be an interesting area to research and I hope that the studies are being conducted by women who know what being a mother 'today' is.
I am amazed at how little I knew of motherhood until 'living' it for real. Our early perceptions and how we are conditioned to view things impact greatly on how we adapt to the role of being a mother.
I have thought that if mothers were regarded more highly and afforded the 'professional' development and 'personal' development that other areas of the working community are provided with, that our community overall would benefit greatly from. It would be a completer turn around re 'work' value and would lead to vast improvements in contribution, creativity and growth. There is so much that can be done, yet isn't. Many older women entering motherhood, and those of celebrity status, are communicating that 'raising children is the most demanding job' (quote).

  #3      

mothering

Hello Jennifer,

There is loads of research happening around topics related to mothering - there is a hub around a place called the Association for research on motherin, York uni, Toronto see: http://www.yorku.ca/arm/

My kids are now 14 and 12, but for years I have found solice in reading others experiences and takes on the subject. I've become interested in understanding how mothering has been structured within the family and recently made this post on a blog for a listening tour for the HREOC - if you were interested you could either make a post or just have a look at what others were saying -

Hello,

There are so many parallels in the stories above and I’m afraid that these messages speak for thousands of families. I have been researching into the social structuring of the family and have come across two important and relevant texts: the first is Love’s Labor, by Eva Kittay and the second The Autonomy Myth by Martha Fineman. The essential argument is that the state and the market are dependent on the family as a repository for care and dependency (infants, the infirm aged and the incapacitated). If there is to be real change policy and practice needs to be reformulated so as to accommodate the caring needs of families within the wider social system. We are continuing to operate as if the traditional and gendered family form were still the case, even though there have been huge changes in both the workplace and the education system. There is a significant need to reformulate family policy and practice across the board (government departments) recognising contemporary aspirations.

best, Joan

see: http://hreocblog.com/2007/11/21/have...y/#comment-243

anyhow, take care and best, ginalol

  #4    

blog link

hi Jennifer and Ginalol, like your comments. Ginalol, thanks for the HREOC link and good on you for having a say. I'd heard about the listening tour but didn't know that they had a blog about it.

cheers,

__________________
mbhadmin

Mothering and ambivalence

Hi,

Have just been reading an excellent book called: Mothering and Ambivalence (ed) Wendy Hollway and Brid Featherstone, 1997

The introductory chapter gives an outline of movements within feminism that have often skirted issues and topics related to mothering and the many attempts that have been made to come to grips with some real life issues!!

Here is a quote from it that I thought very interesting and would like to know any thoughts that arise out of it:

"'Whereas history has recognised maternal work almost exclusively in terms of its impact on the child, contemporary culture is beginning to articulate the mother as a subject in her own right' (Bassin, Honey and Mahrer Kaplan 1994:9). Through theorising the central importance of mutual recognition in mother-child relationships, Benjamin has argued that, in order to achieve an autonomous sese of self, a child needs a mother who is also autonomous. This is because a child cannot experience recognition by someone that he or she controls. Understanding children's developmental need for an autonomous maternal subjectivity is a far cry from early psycho-analytic tendencies (themselves probably overstated in feminist critiques) to posit a mother whose identity is entirely constituted through her child's demands. Benjamin's formulation does not magically reconcile the constant tensions between the mothers' own and their children's desires which mothers have to contain on an everyday basis, but it does point out the need to recognise the inevitable tension between autonomy and dependence: 'at the very moment of realizing our own independent will, we are dependent upon another to recognize it' (Benjamin 1995b:37). In order words, we need to maintain the paradox between our earliest desires for a mother who is a need-satisfying other and our desires to be in control of our own lives. An emphasis on intersubjectivity also reminds us that our desires and pleasures are not separate from those of others, that helping to promote the pleasures and desire of children is part of the pleasure of mothering. Mothering is not all joy, but it is not all sorrow either. Let us hold on to both; let us not deny the ambivalence, either in practice or in theory". (11-12)

Ambivalence - interesting to explore I think. It seems to me that even by defining ourselves as mothers we may be locking ourselves into that trap of objectifying our subjectivity, surely we are more than our relationships with our children. We gave up defining ourselves as wives long ago, why are we finding it even harder to drop the labels and take hole of our full humanity, which inclues all our relationships, interests, needs, desires, etc etc. And in taking hold of our humanity, subjectivity, or autonomy we are also making way for our children to be more fully autonomous - what do ya reckon??

cheers, Ginalol

  #2      

awesome!

that's an amazing exerpt and u raise some really interesting issues ginalol. I think u r right - i think that once women become mums all of a sudden our identity and our reason for being seems inexticably linked to our children. maybe this is compounded when u are a stay-at-home mum. i try a keep as sense of identity but, especially being at home, it's hard to have conversations with people - especially mums - without things coming back to my kids.

i think that obectifying the subjective nature of motherhood begins in the womb where the concepts of our needs, their needs, and the notion of mother all get morphed into one. And i think it's funny that with all the stuff the feminists have stood for, and despite mums finding an identity in paid work, there still seems to be a resistance in society to consider the mum as having needs as a woman - maybe in relation to being a mum, but maybe not.

I don't know if this is related or not, but i also find it interesting that the term 'to mother' has so much more intensity to it than 'to father'.

__________________
poppyg

Me - 37
DH - 39

Link to amazing site - women's literature

importance of free play - report

Hi,

Just came across this link - good to know about research outcomes I think when there is quite some pressure to make sure that your kids are having access to all that is available in sport, music, culture, dance and what have you .... we know lots of people who have opted for the cultured approach and I would feel better if my kids were engaged with something more than they are - but they are both adamant they don't like classes or kids programs (even those lovely crafty holiday programs that I would just love to do - or to have done I think). No, they say, they'd rather be at home, and or playing with friends. Mind you they are both very much into computer and electronic games - though we have fought with them for years to have time limits (which means more time than we would like but less than they would like). Anyhow, heres some research on the importance of free, unstructured time - I wonder if they would consider computer or electonic games as play?? I certainly don't think it is an open and shut cames against the games - I often watch the kids at play with them - what an adventure park! And they share A LOT with their friends about strategies etc etc. can't be all bad.

cheers, love to hear your thoughts on this (ps my kids are now nearly 11 and 13)

2. The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds

Jan. 2007

American Academy of Pediatrics

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says free and unstructured play is healthy and - in fact - essential for helping children reach important social, emotional, and cognitive developmental milestones as well as helping them manage stress and become resilient.

The report, "The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds," is written in defense of play and in response to forces threatening free play and unscheduled time. These forces include changes in family structure, the increasingly competitive college admissions process, and federal education policies that have led to reduced recess and physical education in many schools.

Whereas play protects children's emotional development, a loss of free time in combination with a hurried lifestyle can be a source of stress, anxiety and may even contribute to depression for many children, the AAP report states.

At http://www.aap.org/pressroom/play-public.htm

PS: here also is a link to a media guide for parents - from the US Pediatricians assocation - strategies to help children select content

http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZGVL4PQ7C.htm?&sub_cat=17

Last edited by ginalol : 22-02-2007 at 08:30 AM. Reason: added link worthwhile

  #2