Australian women’s lived experiences of unrealistic motherhood and mothering expectations

Abstract

This article explores how hegemonic gender shapes the expectations on women to become mothers and adopt intensive motherhood practices. Implementing a qualitative phenomenological approach, interviews were conducted with twenty-four Australian women. The findings revealed three central themes. Firstly, hegemonic gender reinforces, normalizes and maintains motherhood as the central component of adult femininity. Secondly, expectations of ‘good’ motherhood demand women forego their identity as women and replace this with mother, that they adhere to ‘good’ mothering, and suppress their experiences of maternal regret to maintain the idealization of motherhood as always easy and fulfilling. Lastly, hegemonic gender keeps motherhood in the hands of women, maintaining the gender hierarchy. This study finds motherhood is essential to maintaining women’s overall subordination within society. Hegemonic gender structures, maintaining the institution of motherhood, must be challenged to enable empowered mothering.