Reclaiming Our Identities as Good Mothers: Narratives of Mothers with Child Welfare Experience

The predominant definition of motherhood in Canada, and Western Society, reflects the notion of intensive mothering, whereby mothers are expected to manage their responsibilities as the primary caregiver of their children and household, while maintaining employment outside of the home. This notion, based on a middle-class, Eurocentric construct leaves little consideration for the experiences of mothers from diverse socio-economic, and ethno-racial backgrounds. Mothers involved in child welfare for allegations of abuse are challenged with identifying with this definition of motherhood, as they face stigmatization by their communities and shame for their care of their children. Research affirms that mothers in child welfare are disproportionately younger, and of lower-economic status compared to the general population, in addition to having higher rates of homelessness, unemployment, and mental health concerns. My research question is: How do the narratives of mothers with child welfare involvement challenge good mothering ideology? This qualitative, exploratory study collaborates with three mothers in Calgary, Alberta, who, over the course of a series on in-depth interviews shared stories of the mothering they experienced in childhood, the challenges in their own mothering which resulted in having their children apprehended by the state, and finally their journey to regaining custody of their children. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. These women’s narratives highlighted their resiliency in their reclaiming identities as good mothers while challenging socially-constructed beliefs about women, and mothering. Our intention is that the women’s stories can inform child welfare policies and procedures to best support diverse families involved in the child welfare system.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Social Work (MSW)

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Yoo, Hee-Jeong

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Walsh, Christine Ann

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Badry, Dorothy Eleanor
• Choate, Peter W.
• Walsh, Christine Ann

• motherhood
• mothering
• Child Welfare

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/33081

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/108728