The Role of Motherhood
While a 2000 article by Karen Hines at Duke University states that doctors, lawyers and various other academics continue to argue over the meaning and role of motherhood, real mothers will tell you bluntly that the role of motherhood is really a collection of roles. On top of that, mothers across the globe will argue that certain roles of motherhood are constant, while other roles develop and cease as necessary to meet the needs of a child or several children.
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Permanent Roles
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Throughout the child's life, as they proceed from childhood to adulthood, mothers have certain roles that remain constant. Some of these roles may not exist in some mothers and are most likely governed by the mother's religious beliefs as well as her parenting style. These roles include the role of caregiver, friend, confidant, censor, cook, disciplinarian, maid and teacher. While these roles may fluctuate as a child grows, with some roles growing and others waning, these roles are necessary as a child grows into an adult and often after the child is an adult.
Work
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In addition to roles within the family structure as a friend, wife and all the sub-roles of the mother, a mother must also conduct roles outside of the home. Many families cannot survive on a single income, so the mother must help bring in the money the family needs for both necessities and entertainment items. This is especially true of the single mother, who must earn the income for the entire family herself, as well as taking on the roles of the absent father. Many mothers are able to sacrifice the extra income in order to stay at home with their children. This allows the mother to offer all her roles with a flexible schedule and concentrate on her roles within the family. Work-at-home careers offer a similar flexibility with additional responsibilities outside of being a mother and caregiver to children.
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Evolution
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The mother, whether she is ready for it or not, must let her roles evolve in order to meet the demands and needs of her children. As children age, the roles of motherhood will change to help the mother raise children of various ages. Perhaps mothers with children of various ages have a tougher role, as they must care for numerous children and children of wide age differences. Aside from the obvious evolution an individual mother must face, the role of motherhood as evolved across the decades as women and women's rights and expectations have changed. While mothers were once young and married when their first child was born, first births are more frequently occurring among older women and outside of marriage, suggesting that the concept of "family" and the role of motherhood has changed in modern times.
Benefits
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Very few mothers will say that motherhood was a challenge they regretted and wish had never happened. Although motherhood is a challenge, as children are not always willing to agree to motherly demands, motherhood is rewarding. Watching your children grow to become strong, intelligent, successful and happy adults is rewarding, in addition to those small moments of love and laughter as a child grows.
Considerations
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Arguments continue to surface as to whether motherhood is defined by genetic material or care and nurturing given to a child and infant. Karen Hines at Duke University clarifies that the argument precisely concerns whether motherhood is biological or psychological. While some may argue that the role of motherhood does not apply to mothers who put their children and infants up for adoption or fail to act out the roles of motherhood, others will argue that the roles of motherhood may also apply to single fathers who provide motherly and fatherly roles to their children.
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References
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- Photo Credit Mother image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
