Becoming a mother changes lives in many ways and this original and accessible 2005 book explores how women try to make sense of, and narrate their experiences of first-time motherhood in the Western world. Tina Miller pays close attention to women's own accounts, over time, of their experiences of transition to motherhood and shows how myths of motherhood continue because women do not feel able to voice their early (often difficult) experiences of mothering. The book charts the social, cultural and moral contours of contemporary motherhood and engages with sociological and feminist debates on how selves are constituted, maintained and narrated. Drawing on original research and narrative theory, the book also explores the disjuncture that often exists between personal experience and public discourse and the cultural dimensions of expert knowledge.
Dedication; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The storied human life: a narrative approach; 2. Making sense of motherhood: cultural scripts; 3. Setting the Western context: mothering in late-modern society; 4. Anticipating motherhood: the antenatal period; 5. Making sense of early mothering experiences; 6. A return to normal: becoming the expert; 7. Conclusions and reflections: making sense of motherhood; References; Index.
