Critical Family Discourses Research Paper: Mothers and Society

Overview of the topic

Assignment 4: Critical Family Discourses Research Paper

 

You are required to take a dominant belief that perpetuates a certain set of beliefs or assumptions about families. These are taken for granted beliefs about families that we have taken up implicitly or explicitly in our lives and views of families. This assignment asks you to explore how these statements serve and reinforce dominant discourses and systemic challenges for families. This could come from your own family, or a saying you have heard in community. Some examples may include:

 

“Spare the rod, spoil the child”

 

“Children should have both a mother and a father.” 

 

“You shouldn’t have more children than you can afford.”

 

“Breast is best.”

 

“Drug users cannot be healthy parents.”

 

“Children should have two parents.”

 

“Mothers should be responsible for child rearing.”

 

“Mothers are more naturally inclined caregivers. It’s in their wiring!”

 

In this assignment, use research to support or critique this statement. Use the following prompts to guide you:

 

a. What does current research about this topic suggest?

 

b. Does this statement fit for you? Why or why not?

 

c. Who does this statement serve? Where is the power in this statement?

 

d. How would you work with a family with this viewpoint? 

 

e. How this perspective is or is not supported by research?

 

f. What role does culture, geography and historical era play in this saying? 

 

g. How has this saying been used to promote or oppress certain families?

 

You are required to cite a minimum of 6 sources, at least 4 of which must be additional academic, peer-reviewed resources not included in the course materials. While writing your research paper, you should reflect on how the information you are uncovering relates to the course material.

 

Introduction

 

In this following write up, I will explore and summarize the topic which I have chosen for my research proposal. The aim of this paper is to address and analyze the roles that society plays in defining motherhood. In addition, the research proposal will also investigate characteristics of a mother and the challenges that mothers face as they bring up their children.

 

Overview of the topic

 

The topic I have chosen is “Mothers should be responsible for child rearing.” I chose this topic because I am a mother myself, and my experience will allow me the advantage of giving both a subjective and objective opinion on the topic under discussion. I would like to discuss how society has destroyed my confidence as a mother. The society defines mothers as cis-gender heterosexual women only and those mothers are caregivers, homemakers, bakers, caretakers of their children which ultimately makes them the main person responsible for bringing up a child.

 

However, in this subject there are several people who are left out like stepmothers, trans queer mothers (Adams, 2020). There is a lot that is expected from mothers for example when a child misbehaves the society blames the mother and the mother is encouraged to attend parenting classes. In addition, the society assumes that a mother should be fully functional and happy at all times, there is no room for being unhappy (Beckerman, et. al, 2016).

 

This is demeaning for mothers since they are not being treated as individuals with needs and so this greatly affects their mental health and affects the way the children are raised. Mothers lack support from the society and lack access to professional help (Rogers, 2019). Also, mothers continue to care for their children despite experiencing emotional challenges and they are expected to be strong in every situation.  

 

In conclusion, this paper seeks to bring to light what it means to be a mother, the struggles that come with it, and the hand that society has had in shaping the characteristics of mothers. It is evident that mothers need an efficient support system to assist with child rearing as this will aid in maintaining their psychological health and bringing up wholesome children.