Social role
Historically,
the role of women was confined mostly to being a mother and wife,
with women being expected to dedicate most of their energy to these
roles, and to spend most of their time taking care of the home. In
many cultures, women received significant help in performing these
tasks from older female relatives, such as mothers in law or their
own mothers.
Mothers
have historically fulfilled the primary role in raising children, but
since the late 20th century, the role of the father in child care has
been given greater prominence and social acceptance in some Western
countries. The 20th century also saw more and more women entering
paid work.
The
social role and experience of motherhood varies greatly depending
upon location. Mothers are more likely than fathers to encourage
assimilative and communion-enhancing patterns in their children.
Mothers are more likely than fathers to acknowledge their children's
contributions in conversation. The way mothers speak to their
children ("motherese")
is better suited to support very young children in their efforts to
understand speech (in context of the reference English) than fathers.
Since
the 1970s, in
vitro fertilization
has
made pregnancy possible at ages well beyond "natural"
limits, generating ethical controversy and forcing significant
changes in the social meaning of motherhood. This is, however a
position highly biased by Western world locality: outside the Western
world, in-vitro fertilization has far less prominence, importance or
currency compared to primary, basic healthcare, women's basic health,
reducing infant mortality and the prevention of life-threatening
diseases such as polio,
typhus
and
malaria.
Traditionally,
and still in most parts of the world today, a mother was expected to
be a married
woman,
with birth outside of marriage carrying a strong social
stigma.
Historically, this stigma didn't only apply to the mother, but also
to her child. This continues to be the case in many parts of the
developing world today, but in many Western countries the situation
has changed radically, with single motherhood being much more
socially acceptable now. For more details on these subjects, see
legitimacy
(law)
and
single
parent.
Wishing all the mothers out there a very
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
God bless you all.
~Susanne
