Motherhood as a Narrative of Moral Resistance

Abstract

The paper examines the ways mature single mothers of choice construct their new narrative when converting their physicality into both knowledge and power. It studies the decision of single women aged over thirty to actualize their wish for a child as a narrative of moral resistance and survival. It suggests that motherhood be examined as a position by (and from) which women (who refuse to remain single and childless) can voice their criticism on self and others and live the consequences of their moral position. Since there is no knowledge on mothers as moral resisters in the sphere of the family, I embark on this examination from the known and well studied concept of moral resistance as a position available to men in the public spheres of war and peace.

Key Words:

• Motherhood
• feminist
• single women
• therapy