Physical activity and the pressures of ‘good’ motherhood: navigating changing bodies, other mothers and role modelling for the active family

ABSTRACT

In a context of complex and contradictory discourses of ‘good’ motherhood, women are often expected to quickly resume or take up a physically active lifestyle postpartum for both their own health and that of their children. Guided by post-structuralist feminism and drawing upon interviews with 12 mothers with young children living in Aotearoa New Zealand, we reveal the various ways mothers navigate social pressures and expectations surrounding ‘good’ motherhood. A reflexive thematic analysis revealed the various pressures on mothers in relation to their physical activity practices. A key element was achieving ‘good mother’ status by taking control of their bodies through exercise and role-modelling proactive physical activity practices for their children and families. While some mothers worked to achieve this unrealistic ideal, others problematised and resisted such pressures. Concerns about body image, pressures from ‘other mothers’, limited time and energy, and feelings of guilt were all key contributing factors influencing mothers’ physical activity practices. Mothers also considered themselves integral in their children’s lives, expressing a desire to increase physical activity time and role modelling for an active family. Focusing on New Zealand mothers’ lived experiences of negotiating the various pressures and expectations of motherhood, including the pursuit of a physically active lifestyle, this paper makes an original contribution to a growing body of literature on the complex relationship between motherhood, sport, and physical activity.

KEYWORDS:

• Mothers
• physical activity
• social pressures
• feminist poststructuralism
• role model

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Natalie Connolly

Natalie Connolly was a student at the University of Waikato, having previously focused her studies on physical activity participation as an essential aspect of holictic health. Connolly is now focusing on exploring social sciences, specifically nuances associated with the social pressures of physical activity participation.

Holly Thorpe

Holly Thorpe is a professor of sociology in Te Huataki Waiora, School of Health, at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Thorpe engages an array of feminist approaches to expand theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the complexities of gender, power and moving bodies in a range of sport, physical cultural, and fitness contexts.