Undermining Mothers: A Content Analysis of the Representation of Mothers in Magazines

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2003

Publication Source

Mass Communication and Society

Volume Number

6

Issue Number

3

First Page

243

Last Page

265

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

ISSN

1520-5436

E-ISSN

1532-7825

Abstract

Mother wars, the pitting of at-home and employed mothers against each other, dominate public discourse. Mother roles are contested and, as a result, mothers are inundated with contradictory messages that affirm a particular mother role and simultaneously condemn a mother for achieving it. This content analysis explores 4 maternal contradictions in contemporary women's magazines: (a) mothers are selfish/selfless; (b) mothers should foster independence/dependence in children; (c) mothers who succeed/fail in the domestic sphere, fail/succeed in the public sphere; and (d) mothers are natural, instinctive, intuitive/need expert help. The messages, and the characterization of these contradictions as double binds, have implications on the empowerment of mothers and the perpetuation of patriarchal systems.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS