maternal identity
Becoming a mother for the first time profoundly affects a woman’s sense of who she is. She must deal with emotional demands of her baby, adjust to changes in her relationship with the baby’s father and wider family, and integrate competing desires for or pressures to resume paid work. The experience of the transition varies for individuals, but particularly across cultures, historical epochs and economic circumstances.
This paper... more
Becoming a mother for the first time can profoundly affect a woman's sense of who she is. To manage this transition while dealing with the vulnerability of a tiny baby requires support from partner, family and wider community. What happens for mothers rearing their babies in very different countries or environments from those in which they were themselves brought up?
This paper presents findings from a research project... more
