Through a layered account format combining theory, performative autoethnographic vignettes,
and dialogical exchanges, the author explores the performances of Supermotherhood as they
materialize within her life and potentially within the lives of, and through interactions with, other
mothers inside and outside of her immediate peer group. The author analyses the ways the
pervasive ideology of perfect mothering manifests itself within motherhood culture, and how it
ultimately impacts maternal agency, self worth, and by extension, the family unit, and the culture
of motherhood-mothering in general. Guided by a feminist poststructuralist approach, the author
argues that the Supermom, or rather, Super Mom meta-identity offers all subjective labels and
ideologies of mothering a place to become and celebrate possibility, individuality, transition, and
maternal empowerment.
Keywords: mothering; feminism; performative identity; autoethnography;
poststructuralist feminism; maternal empowerment; layered account
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BRC.10170/460 |
| Date | 22 October 2011 |
| Creators | Oliver, Nicole L. |
| Contributors | Heinz, Matthew |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Detected Language | English |
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