When Alex Bollen had her first child, the fear of being a bad mother made her feel guilty and anxious. As a researcher with twenty years of experience, she sought answers. To her surprise, the studies she examined proved to be exaggerated and misleading by the media, forming the basis for what she calls the Myths of the Good Mother. These myths are a combination of narratives, ideologies, and stereotypes used to blame mothers and hold them responsible for every social ill.

Outraged by the way bad science is used to shame mothers, Alex Bollen decided to restore the truth. With meticulous research and insight, "Motherdom" reveals both the shaky science and the unwarranted recommendations for how mothers should behave "naturally." Competing birth perspectives - "natural" versus "medical" - mean that women may be judged no matter what happens, increasing the chances that childbirth will be a damaging, even deadly, experience.

Mothers are judged and belittled whether they breastfeed or bottle-feed their baby. False claims about brain development and dubious attachment theories mean that whatever mothers do, it's never enough. This must stop. We need to replace the Myths of the Good Mother with a realistic approach to parenting. Alex Bollen proposes "motherdom," a broader perspective on motherhood that values and respects the different ways people raise their children. Rather than looking for faults in mothers, "Motherdom" shifts our focus to the relationships and resources children need to thrive.

Pages: 304, Dimensions: 15.3x15.3cm