Motherhood In American Culture

In the Western society I was raised in, a mother is usually understood as one of two ways. A mother is either a selfless and hardworking nurturer, or a protective and “helicoptering” figure that will do anything for her child. While numerous mothers, in actuality, encompass neither or both of these roles along with several others, the definition usually encompasses much more than just somebody who has given birth. The factual and textbook definition of being a mother is simply to be a female parent, however, the social definition of “Motherhood” has been stretched in several societies. Throughout our class, I have learned different ways in which motherhood in Israel specifically has grown to encompass roles related not only to Israeli children
Dr. Paz also discussed that in America, women of color have the choice, along with lesbian women and impoverished women. Just as Palestinian women’s children do not contribute to the Zionist ideals, these American women do not align with the United State’s ideals. American and Israel are both largely religious countries, respectively Jewish and Christian. Religious background and foundations such as these often have texts or beliefs that discuss motherhood and
The child of an impoverished woman may be weak, or need to steal, or be additionally likely to have undesirable traits that do not reflect projected Israeli or American ideals. Values like these, as well as the ones reflected in the grounds for abortion, are reminiscent of Eugenics and that desire to strengthen a race. Fortunately, though, these values present themselves through social pressures and lack of pressure rather than through direct laws limiting certain peoples from populating a