Mothers and SonsBased on frank and revealing interviews with mothers and sons of all ages, Babette Smith's ground-breaking book tells the truth about this crucial relationship. She probes behind the myths and the silences to uncover some surprising answers. Many middle-aged sons confess to being bored in their mother's company. Many say they felt unloved as children, but have forgotten that masculine pressures made them reject their mother's affection. On the other hand, mothers are afraid of being too possessive, too seductive or too domineering with their sons. Today's young sons often have better relationships with their mothers, but the old patterns persist. Mothers and Sons may help to bridge the gulf between women and men. 'With compassion, frankness and insight, Babette Smith exposes the dangers of gender stereotypes and encourages a more realistic appreciation of the needs which are unique to every relationship.' - Hugh Mackay '.fascinating and poignant insights into the changing nature of mother-son relationships.' - Bettina Arndt 'A compassionate, insightful and timely exploration of a core element in male identity.' - Terry Colling, author of Beyond Mateship 'As the mother of two sons, I want everyone to read it.' - Wendy McCarthy AO |
Contents
Postwar mothers | |
Postwar sons 4 The opposite | |
Learning to be a | |
Masculine and feminine | |
Kindred spirits | |
The balance of power | |
Victims | |
Post1960s mothers | |
Sonsthe younger version | |
Mothers and daughtersinlaw | |
Signposts to the future | |
Notes | |
Selected bibliography | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
admire adolescence adult affection affectionate ambivalence attitudes behaviour blame boy’s brother child confidence daughters daughtersinlaw described develop didn’t divorce doesn’t dominant emotional emotionally empathy emphasised enjoy equality expressed father fear feel felt female feminine feminism feminist friends fulltime gender Geraldine Taylor girlfriend girls Gloria Steinem guilt homosexual hurt husband I’ve idea John Stoltenberg kiss lack lives male children male culture man’s marriage masculine conditioning maternal men’s middleaged mother’s company motherhood motherinlaw mothers and sons mothers of sons motherson relationship mummy’s boy never older opinion parents particularly Paul Whyte physical postwar qualities reaction realise reared recognise resentment respect responsibility revealed role self selfesteem sexuality share she’s sometimes son’s stereotype struggle talk teenage tell There’s they’re things tough traditional typical understand Vaus wife woman woman’s women wouldn’t young younger