The relationship between feminism and motherhood is complicated but fascinating. While famous Western feminists publicly opposed (the institution of) motherhood, and some contemporary feminists still find it difficult to reconcile motherhood with their feminist convictions, other critical thinkers like black and indigenous feminists, queer and crip scholars, have pointed out the emancipatory potential of the mothering practice. Rather than spelling out the complicated relation between feminism and motherhood directly, during this winter school we will explore it through the topic of sense of agency in motherhood. Through guest lectures and discussions, and by reading and discussing mothering accounts in cultural expressions (e.g. literature, film...) we will explore the possible meanings of sense of agency in this context and the many factors influencing mothers’ sense of agency.
Among the topics for discussion are mothers’ complicity in their own oppression, TERFs, matrescence literature, infertility in academia, migrant mothers’ experiences, parenting apps, mom rage, birth strikes and (gendered division of) household labour.