21st Century Motherhood

My essay will analyze the ideal woman of today in comparison to the 1900’s woman. This journal is on the mother of the 21^st century and it introduces a new term- intensive mothering. This article brought my attention to what a mother is socially expected to do. Intensive mothering is where the mother is self-sacrificing. “Society identifies mothers by what they try to do, not by what they think or feel”. This 21^st century mother, Superwoman, puts her wants aside to be completely devoted to her children- according to the journal, “mothering standards are rising”. They look at the working mother. Around 80 hours a week is devoted to work, children, and the household by the working mother while the working father spends around 50-70 hours a week, (Motherhood in the 21^st century).

This article also discusses how being a mother and a working woman affects the other. While at work, the worries over children and calls from childcare interrupt her ability to focus on work at work. This common distraction and time off requested to stay home with sick children or attend their activities among other things often influence the woman’s career. She is less likely to be offered a higher position because of the preconceived idea of the limited time she can dedicate to her career.

<3 ShainaRene'

“Motherhood in the 21^st century: implications for counselors”. onlinelibrary.wiley.com. University of Kentucky Online Wiley Library. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 23 Dec 2011. Web. 1 Nov 2013.