Feminism and Motherhood: Negotiating the Divide

Presenter Information

Katherine England, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Location

CSU 204

Start Date

5-4-2010 10:00 AM

End Date

5-4-2010 12:00 PM

Student's Major

Sociology and Corrections

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Luis Posas

Mentor's Department

Sociology and Corrections

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Second Mentor's Name

Helen Crump

Second Mentor's Department

Gender and Women's Studies

Second Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

Women, especially feminists, are conflicted about leaving their careers for motherhood; some wonder if they can even be a feminist and a mother at the same time. This feminist research explores how women negotiate the divide between feminism and motherhood. This paper explores feminist texts such as books, peer reviewed journals and studies. It was found that there is often a conflict of interest within the subjects of work, mothering, gender roles, relationships with partners, as well as other topics. Women often feel that they lose part of themselves or part of their identities when they choose to have children. To begin closing this divide, women need to examine intersections of social roles, gender roles, mothering, and feminist theory and how they let these affect their lives.