Family and Parenthood WGS 240

These flashcards cover key concepts discussed in the lecture on family and parenthood, particularly regarding motherhood, societal expectations, and gender roles.

Motherhood Mystique

Cultural myths and beliefs about motherhood, including notions of ultimate fulfillment and self-sacrifice.

Pronatalism

The belief that everyone should become a parent and that childless people cannot lead fulfilling lives.

Feminine Mystique

A term describing the widespread unhappiness of housewives in the 1950s and 60s, highlighting the societal pressures on women to find fulfillment primarily through marriage and motherhood.

Hegemonic Motherhood

The ideal of motherhood that portrays a white, middle-class, heterosexual woman working primarily in the home with a working father outside the home.

Motherhood Mandate

Social pressure on women to have children, which includes expectations of raising them well and having at least two.

Childfree Women

Women who choose not to have children, who often face societal criticism and negative stereotypes.

The Mother of All Questions

A societal norm that pressures women to define their lives by motherhood and marriage, enforcing traditional roles.

Trad Wife

A woman who promotes traditional gender roles by adhering to homemaking and child-rearing while showcasing this lifestyle online.

Expectations of Fatherhood

Social norms regarding fathers, often emphasizing an imbalanced division of childcare responsibilities and traditional masculine roles.

Maternal Instinct

The belief that women are naturally inclined to care for their children, often leading to the perception that caregiving is innate.