Encyclopedia of Motherhood

Encyclopedia of Motherhood A landmark three-volume reference work edited by Andrea O'Reilly that presents 700 entries covering all aspects of motherhood across cultures, time periods, and academic disciplines. The encyclopedia examines biological, historical, social, political, and cultural dimensions of mothering and maternal experiences. The work brings together contributions from scholars in fields including anthropology, sociology, psychology, medicine, history, literature, and gender studies. Topics range from pregnancy and childbirth to maternal health, parenting practices, work-life balance, and representations of mothers in media and art. The encyclopedia serves as a foundational academic resource while remaining accessible to general readers interested in maternal studies and women's experiences. Its comprehensive scope establishes motherhood as a distinct field of scholarly inquiry deserving of rigorous academic attention and analysis. This collection reveals motherhood as a complex intersection of biology, identity, social expectations, and cultural practices that shapes both individual lives and broader society. The work positions maternal experiences as central to understanding human development, family structures, and gender relations across cultures.

Limited reviews exist online for this academic reference work. Most comments come from academic libraries and women's studies programs rather than individual readers. Readers appreciated: - Breadth of topics covered across cultures and time periods - Clear organization and cross-referencing - Mix of historical, sociological, and practical content - Integration of feminist perspectives on motherhood - Citations and further reading suggestions Main criticisms: - High price point ($495) limits accessibility - Some entries lack depth on non-Western perspectives - Occasional academic jargon makes it less approachable Available Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2 ratings) Amazon: No customer reviews Google Books: No user ratings The book appears in many academic library collections but has limited reviews from individual readers due to its specialized academic nature and cost. Most feedback comes from scholarly book reviews and library recommendation lists.

Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution by Adrienne Rich Chronicles personal experiences and sociological analysis of motherhood as both a lived reality and societal construct through feminist theory and historical research.

The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued by Ann Crittenden Documents how economic systems and social policies impact mothers through data analysis and institutional examination.

The Cultural Contradictions of Motherhood by Sharon Hays Analyzes competing social expectations placed on mothers through interviews and research spanning class and cultural divisions.

The Myths of Motherhood: How Culture Reinvents the Good Mother by Shari L. Thurer Traces representations and ideologies of motherhood from ancient civilizations through contemporary society using historical and psychological perspectives.

The Monster Within: The Hidden Side of Motherhood by Barbara Almond Examines maternal ambivalence and complex emotions through clinical case studies and cultural analysis of motherhood experiences.

🌟 The encyclopedia took over 4 years to complete and involved contributions from more than 200 international scholars. 🌟 Author Andrea O'Reilly coined the term "matricentric feminism" and founded the first university-level Motherhood Studies program in 1998. 🌟 At 1,000+ pages spread across three volumes, it remains the largest academic reference work dedicated solely to motherhood studies. 🌟 The work covers motherhood practices across 50 different cultures and spans historical periods from ancient civilizations to modern day. 🌟 Each of the 700 entries includes a comprehensive bibliography, allowing readers to delve deeper into specific topics through additional academic sources.