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Nov. 26th, 2012 01:48 pmWhy do so many people seem to think that becoming a mother automatically means becoming your mother?
This stupid, overly cute question brought to you courtesy of too many pieces of film analysis that flatten out the contexts and complexities of women's lives. Obviously for lots of women becoming a mother provides a new and exciting opportunity to worry that they are turning into their mothers! This is a totally understandable reaction, considering the encircling cultural baggage. It is also a good occasion for soothing baths while someone else takes the kid so they can reason themselves out of the freakout. It is also (also) different from the trope (analytical as well as literary, alas, alas) of "You have a kid! You are now - YOUR MOM! The Cycle is Complete!!!!"
This stupid, overly cute question brought to you courtesy of too many pieces of film analysis that flatten out the contexts and complexities of women's lives. Obviously for lots of women becoming a mother provides a new and exciting opportunity to worry that they are turning into their mothers! This is a totally understandable reaction, considering the encircling cultural baggage. It is also a good occasion for soothing baths while someone else takes the kid so they can reason themselves out of the freakout. It is also (also) different from the trope (analytical as well as literary, alas, alas) of "You have a kid! You are now - YOUR MOM! The Cycle is Complete!!!!"
