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 Although the image of the mother as a mere child-rearer is out-of-date, those conventional forms of representation still exist and construct people`s understanding of motherhood.
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Shifting Concepts of Mother Roles
3. The Representation of Mothers in YAL
3.1. Paul Zindel: The Pigman (1968)
3.2. Cynthia Voigt: A Solitary Blue (1983)
3.3. Paula Danziger: The Divorce Express (1982)
3.4. Margeret P. Haddix: Don`t you dare read this, Mrs. Dunphrey (1996)
4. Images of Mothers in YAL and their Impact on Young Adult Readers
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how contemporary young adult literature portrays motherhood, investigating whether these literary depictions reflect the significant social and familial shifts regarding mother roles over the last fifty years. The central research objective is to determine if modern literature offers a more realistic and diverse representation of mothers compared to the traditional, idealized archetypes of the past, and to analyze how these varied images impact adolescent readers.
- The historical evolution of mother roles in American society.
- Sociological perspectives on motherhood as a social versus a biological phenomenon.
- The transition of mother figures in young adult literature from idealized caretakers to flawed, independent individuals.
- The influence of literary parental representations on the identity formation of young adult readers.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Paul Zindel: The Pigman
The Pigman presents two mother figures, both of which are no shining examples. Lorraine comes from a single parent home. Her father left fifteen years ago and died six years ago “which made it a more permanent separation”15 as Lorraine says. Her mother is a private nurse, working day and night shifts to earn enough for a living.
Her husband left when she was pregnant, which determined her opinion about men in general and made her extremely alert concerning Lorraine`s meeting other boys. Being hypersensitive to this one topic the mother is unable to realize Lorraine`s real problems and concerns. Lorraine once states that “ [her] mother`s got a real hang-up about men and boys”16 and everyday before leaving the house she warns Lorraine to be on her guard against boys, thus creating a fear, which becomes obvious when her friend, John, once tries to kiss her.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the societal changes in the role of women and motherhood, establishing the paper's focus on how young adult literature portrays these shifts.
2. Shifting Concepts of Mother Roles: This section explores the sociological definition of motherhood, contrasting traditional patriarchal views with modern, more independent concepts of family and parenting.
3. The Representation of Mothers in YAL: This chapter analyzes four specific contemporary young adult novels to demonstrate how mother figures are portrayed and their varying levels of competence and independence.
4. Images of Mothers in YAL and their Impact on Young Adult Readers: This part discusses the psychological importance of realistic parental portrayals for adolescents and how these images serve as guidance or reflection for young readers.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, asserting that contemporary literature has moved away from the "too-good-to-be-true" archetype to offer a more realistic, albeit often negative, reflection of modern motherhood.
6. Bibliography: This section lists the primary literary sources and secondary academic literature used for the analysis.
Keywords
Motherhood, Young Adult Literature, Social Change, Parenting, Mother Roles, Family Models, Sociological Perspectives, Adolescent Readers, Representation, Feminism, Domesticity, Independence, Identity, Literature Analysis, Modern Culture
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper fundamentally explores the changing representation of mothers in contemporary young adult literature and how these representations mirror real-world societal shifts in motherhood.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The primary themes include the transition of mother roles from traditional, submissive figures to independent individuals, the diversity of modern family units, and the critical analysis of parenting within literature.
What is the central research question?
The study seeks to answer whether young adult literature has effectively responded to changing social concepts of motherhood and what importance these literary images hold for adolescent development.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing on sociologists and feminist theories of motherhood to provide a framework for examining four selected novels.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines four specific books — "The Pigman," "A Solitary Blue," "The Divorce Express," and "Don't you dare read this, Mrs. Dunphrey" — to analyze different mother figures and their impact on their children.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Motherhood, Young Adult Literature, Social Change, Parenting, Mother Roles, and Family Models.
How does the book "A Solitary Blue" represent motherhood?
The mother, Melody, is depicted as rejecting motherhood in favor of personal gain, showing an incompatibility between her own interests and her responsibilities, which leads to her son's emotional isolation.
What role does the mother play in "Don't you dare read this, Mrs. Dunphrey"?
Due to mental illness and extreme dependency on an abusive husband, the mother in this novel is emotionally absent, forcing her daughter, Tish, to assume adult responsibilities.
How is the shift in "The Divorce Express" mother role characterized?
The mother develops from a dependent homemaker to a successful, independent businesswoman, illustrating the complexities of balancing a new career with parenting duties.
- 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
