“There is nothing liberating about motherhood. The desire for motherhood is the result of
socialisation and societal pressure.” Evaluate this view.
Introduction
Define: Motherhood- motherhood is the state of being a mother.
Importance: If motherhood is one way in which woman are marginalised, perhaps woman
should think critically about whether motherhood is what they want to pursue.
Scholars: Oakley, De Beauvoir, Pope John Paul II
Conclusion: Whilst some might find liberating aspects of motherhood, it is largely true to
state that the desire for motherhood is the result of socialisation and societal pressure.
Paragraph 1
Point: Whilst some might find liberating aspects of motherhood, it is largely true to state
that the desire for motherhood is the result of socialisation and societal pressure.
Argument: Ann Oakley was a sociologist and feminist and created pioneering work on
motherhood in the 1970s. She interviewed women and gave their accounts of their lives in
their own words. She described the frustrations that women feel when they have to stay at
home while their children are young. Oakley wrote about the ways in which women feel
powerless during childbirth, when medical experts (usually men) take over and start treating
them as ‘cases’.
These accounts led her to conclude that a woman’s feeling that she needs to become a
mother is not biological but is entirely the result of socialisation: there is no such thing as a
‘maternal instinct’. This leaves the male primary wage earner and the female as the primary
care giver. This social pressure to conform leads to a women suppressing their career
ambitions. Oakley gave a voice to women and examined the ways in which social control
impacts on their experience.
Counterargument: Whilst Oakley’s findings may have some merit, the methodology she
used to obtain this research is highly subjective in nature. Her sample size was small, and
she interpreted the results using her own understanding, which means they are inherently
subjective.
Paragraph 2
Point: It is true to a small extent to state that the desire for motherhood is the result of
socialisation and societal pressure, as there liberating aspects of motherhood.
Argument: Pope John Paul II wrote an open letter in 1988 on the subject of the dignity and
rights of women, called Mulieris Dignitatem, in response to accusations that the Church was
sexist.
, His open letter made these points: Men and women have different, complementary
characteristics given to them by God. Women have a special dignity because of their
capacity for motherhood and their unique ability to bring the next generation into the
world.
The Pope writes that women are ‘naturally disposed to motherhood’ both physically and
psychologically, and that this is a gift from God. He writes that the pain of childbirth
experienced by women is the result of original sin, but it also allows women an insight into
the mystery of the suffering of Christ. Women are better able to cope with suffering than
men, but are also more sensitive.
Counterargument: It is unclear what the Pope is basing his claims on. How does he know
that women are better able to cope with suffering than men? How does he know they are
more sensitive? These claims have no scientific base.
Paragraph 3
Point: Whilst some might find liberating aspects of motherhood, it is largely true to state
that the desire for motherhood is the result of socialisation and societal pressure.
Argument: The feminist writer, Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), for example, wrote in the
1940s about the ways in which motherhood forces a women to suspend her own interests
and personality in order to take care of her children. She wrote that women have
motherhood forced upon them and that it leaves them crushed, unable to develop as
individuals while their children are young, and then left empty and without purpose once
their children grow up and leave home. At the time, de Beauvoir’s work was considered to
be startlingly unconventional, but it struck a chord with many women in the days before
there was readily available contraception.
Counterargument: There is no scientific basis to defend a claim that women collectively
suspend their interests and personality in order to take care of her children. Where the
suspension of a quality such as freedom is more quantifiable (less time to oneself, less time
for leisure activities), it is difficult to unanimously agree that a woman does in fact suspend
her personality in order to take care of her children.
socialisation and societal pressure.” Evaluate this view.
Introduction
Define: Motherhood- motherhood is the state of being a mother.
Importance: If motherhood is one way in which woman are marginalised, perhaps woman
should think critically about whether motherhood is what they want to pursue.
Scholars: Oakley, De Beauvoir, Pope John Paul II
Conclusion: Whilst some might find liberating aspects of motherhood, it is largely true to
state that the desire for motherhood is the result of socialisation and societal pressure.
Paragraph 1
Point: Whilst some might find liberating aspects of motherhood, it is largely true to state
that the desire for motherhood is the result of socialisation and societal pressure.
Argument: Ann Oakley was a sociologist and feminist and created pioneering work on
motherhood in the 1970s. She interviewed women and gave their accounts of their lives in
their own words. She described the frustrations that women feel when they have to stay at
home while their children are young. Oakley wrote about the ways in which women feel
powerless during childbirth, when medical experts (usually men) take over and start treating
them as ‘cases’.
These accounts led her to conclude that a woman’s feeling that she needs to become a
mother is not biological but is entirely the result of socialisation: there is no such thing as a
‘maternal instinct’. This leaves the male primary wage earner and the female as the primary
care giver. This social pressure to conform leads to a women suppressing their career
ambitions. Oakley gave a voice to women and examined the ways in which social control
impacts on their experience.
Counterargument: Whilst Oakley’s findings may have some merit, the methodology she
used to obtain this research is highly subjective in nature. Her sample size was small, and
she interpreted the results using her own understanding, which means they are inherently
subjective.
Paragraph 2
Point: It is true to a small extent to state that the desire for motherhood is the result of
socialisation and societal pressure, as there liberating aspects of motherhood.
Argument: Pope John Paul II wrote an open letter in 1988 on the subject of the dignity and
rights of women, called Mulieris Dignitatem, in response to accusations that the Church was
sexist.
, His open letter made these points: Men and women have different, complementary
characteristics given to them by God. Women have a special dignity because of their
capacity for motherhood and their unique ability to bring the next generation into the
world.
The Pope writes that women are ‘naturally disposed to motherhood’ both physically and
psychologically, and that this is a gift from God. He writes that the pain of childbirth
experienced by women is the result of original sin, but it also allows women an insight into
the mystery of the suffering of Christ. Women are better able to cope with suffering than
men, but are also more sensitive.
Counterargument: It is unclear what the Pope is basing his claims on. How does he know
that women are better able to cope with suffering than men? How does he know they are
more sensitive? These claims have no scientific base.
Paragraph 3
Point: Whilst some might find liberating aspects of motherhood, it is largely true to state
that the desire for motherhood is the result of socialisation and societal pressure.
Argument: The feminist writer, Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986), for example, wrote in the
1940s about the ways in which motherhood forces a women to suspend her own interests
and personality in order to take care of her children. She wrote that women have
motherhood forced upon them and that it leaves them crushed, unable to develop as
individuals while their children are young, and then left empty and without purpose once
their children grow up and leave home. At the time, de Beauvoir’s work was considered to
be startlingly unconventional, but it struck a chord with many women in the days before
there was readily available contraception.
Counterargument: There is no scientific basis to defend a claim that women collectively
suspend their interests and personality in order to take care of her children. Where the
suspension of a quality such as freedom is more quantifiable (less time to oneself, less time
for leisure activities), it is difficult to unanimously agree that a woman does in fact suspend
her personality in order to take care of her children.
