Introduction
The role of women in American society has changed tremendously during the last 50 years. Women started to enter the labour force and to free themselves from the restrictions of home. Starting to work outside their domestic realm, they became more independent and self-reliant. With the empowerment of women the role of mothers
started to change as well. No longer did mothers identify themselves only through their husbands and children but increasingly looked for possibilities to fulfill themselves outside the family and to take an active part in society. Expectations on mothers altered and with it the standard assumptions of motherhood were called into question and the vision of a new mother, a person who has her own needs, feelings and interests was emerging. Mothering was no longer regarded as women`s primary and sole mission but as one of many roles women could and did assume. Nevertheless, despite those changes the myth of the all-giving and self-devoting mother
did prevail and can even be found in American present-day society. Especially the media and advertisments still celebrate the ideal mother, whose only source of gratification is her family. Although the image of the mother as a mere child-rearer is out-of-date, those conventional forms of representation still exist and construct people`s understanding of motherhood.
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Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Shifting Concepts of Mother Roles
- The Representation of Mothers in YAL
- Paul Zindel: The Pigman (1968)
- Cynthia Voigt: A Solitary Blue (1983)
- Paula Danziger: The Divorce Express (1982)
- Margeret P. Haddix: Don't you dare read this, Mrs. Dunphrey (1996)
- Images of Mothers in YAL and their Impact on Young Adult Readers
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines how young adult literature portrays mothers and investigates whether and how it has responded to changing concepts of motherhood. The aim is to determine if this literature reflects contemporary realities and what significance images of mothers hold for adolescent readers.
- Shifting concepts of motherhood in American society
- The representation of mothers in young adult literature
- The impact of these representations on young adult readers
- The evolution of family structures and parenting roles
- The influence of sociological and feminist perspectives on understanding motherhood
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the context by discussing the changing role of women in American society over the past 50 years, focusing on the evolving definition and representation of motherhood. It highlights the shift from traditional, idealized notions of motherhood to a more diverse and nuanced understanding of the role. The chapter also outlines the research question and methodology, emphasizing the importance of exploring how young adult literature reflects these changes.
- Shifting Concepts of Mother Roles: This chapter delves into the historical and societal context of motherhood, examining the transition from traditional, biologically-determined views to a more nuanced understanding rooted in social choice and personal agency. It explores how feminist and sociological perspectives have influenced this shift and how women have challenged the limitations imposed by conventional notions of motherhood. The chapter also discusses the changing family unit and how this has led to new parenting models.
- The Representation of Mothers in YAL: This chapter analyzes the portrayal of mothers in four contemporary young adult novels: "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel, "A Solitary Blue" by Cynthia Voigt, "The Divorce Express" by Paula Danziger, and "Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey" by Margaret P. Haddix. The chapter examines how these books represent mothers within the context of the evolving societal understanding of the role.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on the representation of mothers in young adult literature, exploring themes of changing motherhood, family structures, and the influence of feminist and sociological perspectives. It investigates how these representations impact young adult readers and how literature reflects the complexities of modern parenting roles.
- Quote paper
- Nadine Röpke (Author), 2005, Representing Motherhood: Images of Mothers in Contemporary Young Adult Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/57444
