Motherhood as Performance: (Re)Negotiations of Motherhood in Contemporary German Literature

Abstract

While the birth rate in Europe remains low, the role of motherhood is hotly debated in Germany-particularly in conjunction with the revival of feminism in that coun- try. In the context of these debates, this article analyzes the representation of mothers in three contemporary novels by German authors: HirnrnelskOrper (2003) by Tanja Duckers, Die Gunnar-Lennefsen-Expedition (1998) by Kathrin Schmidt, and Die Mittagsfrau (2007) by Ju- lia Franck. All three books are informed by a feminist perspectivebut only Die Mittagsfrau offers a new way of thinking about motherhood; while DUckers and Schmidt ultimately do not depart from the connection between motherhood and the female body, Franck represents motherhood as a performative identity, in the sense of Judith Butler's theory of performative gender. "Maternal drag:" as articulated in this article, theorizes the identity mother as a performative one, illuminating expectations of that role and thereby opening it up to possible recon- figuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]