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WGST 423: Mothering/Motherhood in the Real World (Rev. C1) Report a Broken Link

This course looks at motherhood and mothering within the context of Western society. Women’s experiences and personal identities as mothers are explored through a number of discrete topics that include the role of theory and popular culture in shaping contemporary mothering practice; issues affecting women’s choices to combine professional careers with mothering; public policies that work to constrain or reinforce mothering practice; the impact of poverty on mothering practice; mental well-being and motherhood; and how others outside the boundaries defining the “good mother” experience motherhood.

Textbook

Ross, L. R. (2016). Interrogating Motherhood. Edmonton, AB: AU Press. [eBook]

Unit 1: The Study of Motherhood

Gaunt, M. (Director). (2001). Kelly and her sisters [Documentary]. United Kingdom: ITV Studios.

Unit 2: Reflections on Motherhood—Theory and Popular Culture

Slinger, H. (Writer), Bartlett, S. (Director), & LeRose, M. (Director). (2010). Hyper-parents and coddled kids [Television series episode]. In S. Ridout (Producer), Doc zone. Toronto, ON: CBC-TV.
Frohlick, S. (2006). 'Wanting the children and wanting K2’: The incommensurability of motherhood and mountaineering in Britain and North America in the late twentieth century. Gender, Place & Culture: A Journal of Feminist Geography, 13(5), 477–490. doi:10.1080/09663690600858820

Unit 3: Paid Employment and the Practice of Motherhood

Principe, C. (Writer, producer, & director), & Eisen, L. (Writer). (2014). The motherload [Television series episode]. In B. Culbert (Executive producer), Doc zone. Toronto, ON: CBC-TV.
Meyers, M. (2013). The war on academic women: Reflections on postfeminism in the neoliberal academy. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 37(4), 274–283. doi:10.1177/0196859913505619
“Don’t Underestimate Working Mothers”, a TedX talk by Dana Sumpter

Unit 4: Enabling Policies—In Theory and in Practice

Gardiner, A. (Executive producer), & Berry, J. (Director). (2012). Kelly and her sisters grow up [Documentary]. United Kingdom: ITV Studios.
Stalker, G., & Ornstein, M. (2013). Quebec, daycare, and the household strategies of couples with young children. Canadian Public Policy, 39(2), 241–262.

Unit 5: Mothering and Poverty

Palmer, M. (Writer & director). (2014). Angry kids and stressed out parents [Television series episode]. In M. Palmer & H. Slinger (Producers), Doc zone. Toronto, ON: CBC-TV.

Note: You may have difficulty viewing this video if you are taking this course outside of Canada. Please contact your tutor if you have trouble viewing the video.
MacKinnon, S. (2013). The politics of poverty in Canada. Social Alternatives, 32(1), 19–23.

Unit 6: Mothers, Mothering, and Mental Health

Harper, S. (Writer & director). (2012). Age of anxiety [Television series episode]. In R. E. Bienstock (Producer), Doc zone. Toronto, ON: CBC-TV.

Note: You may have difficulty viewing this video if you are taking this course outside of Canada. Please contact your tutor if you have trouble viewing the video.
Serhan, N., Ege, E., Ayranci, U., & Kosgeroglu, N. (2013). Prevalence of postpartum depression in mothers and fathers and its correlates. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22(1–2), 279–284. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04281.x

Unit 7: “Other” Mothers, “Other” Mothering

Dillwood, R. (Producer & director). (2012). Between friends and family [Documentary]. United States: Wins the Race Productions.
Redshaw, M., Malouf, R., Gao, H., & Gray, R. (2013). Women with disability: The experience of maternity care during pregnancy, labour and birth and the postnatal period. BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth, 13(174). doi:10.1186/1471-2393-13-174

Unit 8: Conclusion

Slinger, H. (Writer), Bartlett, S. (Writer & director), & LeRose, M. (Writer & director). (2011). Generation boomerang [Television series episode]. In S. Bartlett, M. LeRose, & S. Ridout (Producers), Doc zone. Toronto, ON: CBC-TV. (Streaming permission provided by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.)