Maternal Narratives in Public Contexts: Shaping Perspectives and Enacting Identities

Maternal Narratives in Public Contexts: Shaping Perspectives and Enacting Identities brings together critical research on the construction and enactment of mothering and motherhood in public spheres. The book is divided into two parts - in the first part, authors examine how prevailing ideals of motherhood influence twenty-first century culture by exploring iterations of maternal identity in various media forms, from Dr. Spock’s self-help guide to film and small-screen entertainment. In the second part, the authors investigate how tropes of motherhood manifest and operate in academia, the workplace, and in political spheres. Ultimately, this book explores how maternal identities are both formed and articulated in public discourse, arguing that rhetorical influences inform the ways in which we define, recognize, and enact maternal identities and the sociocultural ramifications that result within communication contexts. Scholars of communication, media studies, film and television studies, cultural studies, rhetoric, and women’s and gender studies will find this book of particular interest.

Rachel D. Davidson is associate professor in the Department of Communication at Hanover College.

Catherine A. Dobris is associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Indiana University Indianapolis.

Kim White-Mills is director of graduate programs and faculty in the Department of Communication Studies at Indiana University Indianapolis.