Defining Motherhood: Challenges and Perspectives

This essay will explore the challenges of defining motherhood ideologically, discussing broader concepts associated with motherhood and clarifying the meaning of ideology. It will also examine alternative pathways to motherhood, such as surrogacy and adoption. In conclusion, it will summarize key points and highlight the complexities of defining motherhood. A bibliography will be provided to acknowledge sources used in the essay.

Ideology refers to individuals' perspectives and beliefs about the world, encompassing various expectations and norms for living (Wise geek, 2003). Liberal feminism ideology sees motherhood as including rights, responsibilities, empowerment, equity, justice, and identity.

Conversely, materialism considers motherhood essential for children's well-being and safety (Tucker.J., 2004).

The meaning of "mother" is intricate and can vary based on legal, social, or customary perspectives. According to the legal dictionary in 2012, a mother was defined as a woman who has given birth. However, this definition does not include all women, especially those who cannot conceive. In such cases, alternative choices like adoption, fostering, or surrogacy may be contemplated.

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From a societal viewpoint, traditionally a mother was perceived as a woman who single-handedly raised her child.

Motherhood encompasses the bond and duty of caring for and nurturing a child, regardless of biological ties or methods of arrival. It is not solely contingent upon childbirth, as it extends to raising and fostering a child into adulthood. This can involve various scenarios such as adoption, surrogacy, or even when a woman takes on her partner's children. In these instances, women still assume the role of mother by providing love and support to their non-biologically related offspring.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, motherhood is primarily defined as "a female parent," but it also encompasses "maternal tenderness or affection." This definition emphasizes the role of a mother as a nurturer. Mothers exhibit nurturing behaviors through gentle handling, soft voices, and attempts to shield their children from emotional and physical distress. Ultimately, mothers create a safe and secure environment for their children to thrive. (www.livestrong.com)

The belief surrounding gender and motherhood is that mothers often face disapproval if they deviate from traditional gender roles. For instance, if a woman desires to work as a builder, it may be seen as inconsistent with societal expectations, given that builder is considered a male domain.

In the past, in a nuclear family consisting of a mother, father, and two children, the father was the main provider who worked full-time while the mother stayed at home as a housewife. Her responsibilities included taking care of household chores, children, and preparing meals for her husband's return from work. If a mother chose to work occasionally, she usually found part-time employment with considerably lower pay compared to her husband's earnings.

However, in the 20th century there have been advancements in mothers' rights and increased support for their ability to work and fathers taking on child-rearing responsibilities. The number of employed mothers has tripled from 1951 to 2008 and this upward trend continues due to welfare programs and benefits available for working families.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, there was an increasing recognition of the significance of "childhood," which led more mothers to choose breastfeeding for their infants. However, upper-class women held a contrasting perspective and found breastfeeding distasteful, so they opted not to nurse their babies. On the other hand, working-class women, regardless of ethnicity, were regarded as excellent caregivers in the 19th century. Single mothers faced societal judgment during this era. Middle-class women enjoyed the privilege of deciding whether to stay at home or pursue other activities. Conversely, women of color were deemed scientifically inferior and excluded from prevailing notions about motherhood. Despite cultural variations, most societies acknowledge that mothers have the responsibility to provide a safe and nurturing upbringing for their children. They are also expected to handle household tasks and attend to the needs of other family members. In 18th century British society specifically, it was believed that women should primarily focus on domesticity in order to fulfill their maternal duties (Francus, 2012). Presently, mothers hold decision-making authority when it comes to their children's well-being. Generally speaking, organizations such as doctors and schools consult them before involving fathers in important matters.

Fathers may have limited control over outcomes and can only offer support or disagreement with the mother's decisions, while in certain situations they may not have legal involvement. The concept of motherhood is challenging to define due to rapid changes that occur within short periods. For example, a woman can assume a mothering role as a stepmother to her partner's children, or a grandmother may raise her grandchildren for various reasons. Adoptive and foster mothers are also recognized as mothers despite lacking biological ties, as they provide nurturing care to children. Surrogacy provides an opportunity for women unable to conceive or opting not to become mothers. In such cases, another woman carries the embryo formed from the biological father and the woman's egg, implanting it into her womb until birth when the child is then handed over to the parents.

The issue at hand is determining the true mother of a child. In cases of gestational surrogacy, where an egg from a woman and a man's sperm are fertilized into a surrogate mother, the woman whose egg was used is considered the biological mother. However, it should be noted that the surrogate mother can still pass on traits or attitudes to the baby (source: www.healthyguide.org).

Contrarily, according to gov.uk, legal recognition as the mother is given to the woman who gives birth, regardless of genetic relation to the child. Surrogacy is legal in the United States but involves payment to surrogates which is illegal in most cases in the United Kingdom; only reasonable expenses may be covered.

Adoption provides children with a safe and nurturing environment through a process that requires women with a nurturing nature and ability to develop bonds with their adopted child over time. These mothers must raise and care for their children as if they had given birth naturally, providing guidance throughout life. This role demands strength and resilience. Despite lacking biological ties, these mothers love their children unconditionally and embrace their maternal calling.

In the past, mothers were expected to stay at home and focus on teaching their children manners. However, the feminist movement revealed that women had limited roles and lacked decision-making power in the household. It was considered natural for women to become mothers, but they had to obey their husbands' decisions. According to Rothman (1989), a woman's womb was compared to a flower pot, where the man planted the seed resulting in a child. Thus, children were seen as the father's property despite the woman's contribution to reproduction. Women were considered moderate contributors since they carried and gave birth to the child that grew from the father's seed. Nevertheless, in the 20th century, mothers gained more rights. Although some still believed fathers should be sole breadwinners and work full-time, societal changes have made it less daunting for women to share child-rearing responsibilities with their partners.

The increase in the number of fathers who stay at home has allowed them to play a more active role in nurturing their children while mothers are at work. However, some working mothers still feel guilty when they have to leave their children. To address this issue, many choose part-time or flexible work schedules so that they can continue to be present in their children's lives. Unlike in the past, women now have more control over when they become mothers thanks to access to contraception. This gives them the ability to decide when to have children based on their own instincts and nurturing capabilities. This essay explores the ideology and perceptions surrounding motherhood and how it has changed as fathers have become more involved in raising children during the 20th century.

Mothers can be described in various ways, such as through biological reproduction, adoption, surrogacy, and raising children as their own. Irrespective of the approach employed, mothers exhibit nurturing and love towards their children akin to biological mothers. The essay also discusses feminism and acknowledges societal transformations where fathers now actively participate in parenting alongside mothers.

Reference

The following online resources discuss various aspects of motherhood: - About.com (2013) provides information on "What is adoptive mother" and can be accessed at: http://adoption.about.com/cs/wantingtoadopt/a/adoptivemothers.htm - Cole, E. & Knowies, J. (1990) explore the feminist perspective on motherhood in their book "Motherhood: A feminist perspective". This publication is available from The Haworth press. - Francus, M. (2012) examines the ideology of domesticity in eighteenth-century culture and its impact on motherhood in her book "Monstrous motherhood". This publication is available from Johns Hopkins University Press. - Gov.uk (2013) discusses the rights for surrogate mothers and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/rights-for-surrogate-mothers. - Livestrong.com (2013) offers information about women's life and can be accessed at: http://www.livestrong.com/woman/. - Lloyd, E. & Woollett, A. (1991) delve into the meanings, practices, and ideologies surrounding motherhood in their book "Motherhood: meanings, practices and ideologies". This publication is available from Sage publications in California.Suite 101 (1996) explores the social institution of motherhood and can be found at: http://suite101.com/article/social-institution-of-motherhood-a64879. The Social work and society international online journal (2011) provides a historical perspective on the ideologies of motherhood and their impact on social work. This article is accessible at: http://www.socwork.net/sws/article/view/270/445. The free dictionary (2013) defines "Mother" and can be found at: http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/mother. The Wisegeek website (2003) provides information on the topic of motherhood. The webpage can be accessed online at http://s.wisegeek.com/s/?cx=001721306601487571258%3Axvwilsw1lpg&cof=FORID%3A10&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=ideology+on+motherhood&sa. This source was last accessed in April 2013.