This critical essay proposes the concept of mothering-as-feminism, with the intention of interrogating American ideals of mothering and caregiving. Reforming the way we view mothering, as it relates to feminism, requires a re-evaluation of the American role of women and mothers—and how they are portrayed (and therefore seen and understood), valued, and supported. Focusing on the evolution of feminist theory throughout the past 70 years, as well as personal and secondary experiences, I demonstrate how political and social change occurs generationally and is dependent on the education of our children. Ultimately, I show the important role children’s literature plays in the reshaping of our society, and how the liberation of all people relies on the fundamental viewing of a mother as, first and foremost, an autonomous person worthy of value and care.
","abstract_html":"<p>This critical essay proposes the concept of <em>mothering-as-feminism</em>, with the intention of interrogating American ideals of mothering and caregiving. Reforming the way we view mothering, as it relates to feminism, requires a re-evaluation of the American role of women and mothers—and how they are portrayed (and therefore seen and understood), valued, and supported. Focusing on the evolution of feminist theory throughout the past 70 years, as well as personal and secondary experiences, I demonstrate how political and social change occurs generationally and is dependent on the education of our children. Ultimately, I show the important role children’s literature plays in the reshaping of our society, and how the liberation of all people relies on the fundamental viewing of a mother as, first and foremost, an autonomous person worthy of value and care.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Patel, Meera"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Illustration & Visual Culture","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Graduate School of Art","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-05-10T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2023-05-10T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:12:17Z","subjects":["motherhood","feminism","parenthood","bell hooks","angela garbes","betty friedan","children's literature","picture book","Art and Design","Children's and Young Adult Literature","Family, Life Course, and Society","Feminist Philosophy","Illustration","Nonfiction","Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies","Social Justice","Women's History","Women's Studies"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.7936/ztbw-4r74"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://doi.org/10.7936/ztbw-4r74","href":"https://doi.org/10.7936/ztbw-4r74","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mfa_illustration/23","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Patel, Meera"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2023-11-08T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Graduate School of Art"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Illustration & Visual Culture"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["motherhood","feminism","parenthood","bell hooks","angela garbes","betty friedan","children's literature","picture book","Art and Design","Children's and Young Adult Literature","Family, Life Course, and Society","Feminist Philosophy","Illustration","Nonfiction","Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies","Social Justice","Women's History","Women's Studies"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mfa_illustration/23"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.7936/ztbw-4r74"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This critical essay proposes the concept of mothering-as-feminism, with the intention of interrogating American ideals of mothering and caregiving. Reforming the way we view mothering, as it relates to feminism, requires a re-evaluation of the American role of women and mothers—and how they are portrayed (and therefore seen and understood), valued, and supported. Focusing on the evolution of feminist theory throughout the past 70 years, as well as personal and secondary experiences, I demonstrate how political and social change occurs generationally and is dependent on the education of our children. Ultimately, I show the important role children’s literature plays in the reshaping of our society, and how the liberation of all people relies on the fundamental viewing of a mother as, first and foremost, an autonomous person worthy of value and care.
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