Women as MothersA leading social anthropologist examines what being a mother means to a woman as a person , using examples from societies all over the world, and concludes that a great deal of what we call “maternal instinct” is culturally imposed and that there is no “right” or “wrong” way of mothering. -- Publisher description. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 24
Page 37
... fertility , that has become an inconvenience . Childbirth has become a clinical and potentially pathological condition which must take place in a hospital , rather than in the marriage bed over which the rice bestowing fertility on the ...
... fertility , that has become an inconvenience . Childbirth has become a clinical and potentially pathological condition which must take place in a hospital , rather than in the marriage bed over which the rice bestowing fertility on the ...
Page 55
... fertility , the fruits of her womb . " These , ' said the Roman matron . . . , ' are my jewels . ' So great was the emphasis on fertility that in certain African tribes ( the Dahomey , for example ) an impotent husband urged his wife to ...
... fertility , the fruits of her womb . " These , ' said the Roman matron . . . , ' are my jewels . ' So great was the emphasis on fertility that in certain African tribes ( the Dahomey , for example ) an impotent husband urged his wife to ...
Page 56
... fertility . Fertility was not just a personal , private matter , but involved the cosmos . In most of these societies maternal and infant mortality was high . Where life was hard , as among the Eskimos , and wherever there was barely ...
... fertility . Fertility was not just a personal , private matter , but involved the cosmos . In most of these societies maternal and infant mortality was high . Where life was hard , as among the Eskimos , and wherever there was barely ...
Contents
Mothercraft or Motherhood? | 3 |
The Motherhood Trap | 16 |
Mothers in the Social System | 36 |
Copyright | |
10 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
adult Africa antenatal clinic Ashley Montagu baby's Barbara Thompson become behaviour blood body born cent cervix Chaim Bermant child child-rearing childbearing childbirth contraceptive couples culture daughters delivered delivery doctor effect emotional expectant mother experience father feed feel female fertility girl give birth grandmother grow hospital human husband important induced infant interaction involved Jamaican Jewish kibbutz kind labouring woman live look male Margaret Mead marriage maternal menstruating ment midwives modern mother and baby motherhood nana newborn baby normal nuclear family obstetric obstetrician oxytocin parenthood parents patient peasant societies perhaps perinatal mortality person Pethidine placenta pre-industrial societies pregnancy pregnant woman rear relationship responsibility ritual role sexual share Sheila Kitzinger significant social sometimes taboo task tend things tion uterus West wife witches women young Zambia