From motherhood to mothering : the legacy of Adrienne Rich's Of woman born

In the years since the publication of Adrienne Rich's Of Woman Born, the topic of motherhood has emerged as a central issue in feminist scholarship. Arguably still the best feminist book on mothering and motherhood, Of Woman Born is not only a wide-ranging, far-reaching meditation on the meaning and experience of motherhood that draws from the disciplines of anthropology, feminist theory, psychology, and literature, but it also narrates Rich's personal reflections on her experiences of mothering. Andrea O'Reilly gathers feminist scholars from diverse disciplines such as literature, women's studies, law, sociology, anthropology, creative writing, and critical theory and examines how Of Woman Born has informed and influenced the way feminist scholarship "thinks and talks" about motherhood. The contributors explore the many ways in which Rich provides the analytical tools to study and report upon the meaning and experience of motherhood. Of Woman Born Is Not Only A Wide-ranging, Far-reaching Meditation On The Meaning And Experience Of Motherhood That Draws From The Disciplines Of Anthropology, Feminist Theory, Psychology, And Literature, But It Also Narrates Rich's Personal Reflections On Her Experiences Of Mothering. Andrea O'reilly Gathers Feminist Scholars From Diverse Disciplines Such As Literature, Women's Studies, Law, Sociology, Anthropology, Creative Writing, And Critical Theory And Examines How Of Woman Born Has Informed And Influenced The Way Feminist Scholarship Thinks And Talks About Motherhood. The Contributors Explore The Many Ways In Which Rich Provides The Analytical Tools To Study And Report Upon The Meaning And Experience Of Motherhood.--jacket. Part 1. Motherhood As Institution : Patriarchal Power And Maternal Outrage. The Supreme Court Of Canada And What It Means To Be Of Woman Born / Diana Ginn ; Of Party-state Born : Motherhood, Reproductive Politics, And The Chinese Nation-state / Sarah E. Stevens ; Murderous Mothers : Adrienne Rich's Of Woman Born And Toni Morrison's Beloved / Emily Jeremiah -- Part 2. Mothering As Experience : Empowerment And Resistance. We Have Mama But No Papa : Motherhood In Women-centered Societies / Maria-barbara Watson-franke ; Mother As Transformer : Strategic Symbols Of Matrilineage Recuperation In Princess Pocahontas And The Blue Spots / Dannabang Kuwabong ; Of Woman (but Not Man Or The Nuclear Family) Born : Motherhood Outside Institutionalized Heterosexuality / Kate Mccullough ; Feminist Mothers : Successfully Negotiating The Tension Between Motherhood As Institution And Experience / Fiona Joy Green ; Immortality And Morality In Contemporary Reworkings Of The Demeter/persephone Myth / Karin Voth Harman ; Mothering Against Motherhood And The Possibility Of Empowered Maternity For Mothers And Their Children / Andrea O'reilly ; The Broken Shovel : Looking Back From Postmaternity At Co-parenting / Margaret Morganroth Gullette -- Part 3. Narrating Maternity : Writing As A Mother. Adrienne Rich's Clearing In The Imagination : Of Woman Born As Literary Criticism / D'arcy Randall ; A Sense Of Drift : Adrienne Rich's Emergence From Mother To Poet / Jeannette E. Riley ; Beginning With I : The Legacy Of Adrienne Rich's Of Woman Born / Ann Keniston. Edited By Andrea O'reilly. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Andrea O'Reilly is Associate Professor in the School of Women's Studies at York University and Director of the Association for Research on Mothering. She is the author and editor of several books on mothering, including Toni Morrison and A Politics of the Heart , also published by SUNY Press; Mothers and Feminism, Masculinity, and the Struggle to Raise Our Sons ; and Mother Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering .