Conceiving and Investigating Motherhood: The Decade's Scholarship

TLDR

Mothering and motherhood are subjects of a rapidly expanding literature, driven by feminist scholarship that increasingly attends to race, ethnicity, and diverse practices. This decade review examines two predominant streams in motherhood scholarship. The review analyzes the theorizing of mothering and motherhood alongside empirical studies of the mothering experience. Key findings highlight conceptualizations of intensive mothering ideology and maternal practice, and emphasize research on maternal well‑being, satisfaction, distress, and employment.

Abstract

Mothering and motherhood are the subjects of a rapidly expanding body of literature. Considered in this decade review are two predominant streams in this work. One is the theorizing of mothering and motherhood and the other is the empirical study of the mothering experience. Conceptual developments have been propelled particularly by feminist scholarship, including the increasing attention to race and ethnic diversity and practices. The conceptualizations of the ideology of intensive mothering and of maternal practice are among the significant contributions. Study of mothering has focused attention on a wide array of specific topics and relationships among variables, including issues of maternal well‐being, maternal satisfaction and distress, and employment.