Motherhood

Thrilled to present attend and present at a 3-day international conference on Matricentric Feminism! This feminism for and about mothers challenges the patriarchal institution of motherhood and empowers mothers to break free from the expectations of normative motherhood.

Matricentric Feminism is a mother-focused feminism conceived by Andrea O’Reilly that challenges patriarchal oppression and empowers mothers, It “understands mothering and motherhood to be culturally determined and variable, and is committed to exploring the diversity of maternal experience across race, class, culture, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, age, and geographical location” (O’Reilly). This conference paper makes a case for going beyond the exploration of diversity and argues that Matricentric Feminism needs to be decentralized from white, privileged motherhood and fully address the unique experiences and concerns of all mothers. Drawing on the ideas and written works of bell hooks, Patricia Hill Collins, Jennifer Nash, Jennifer Brant, Kim Anderson, Randi Cull, and others, it demonstrates that Matricentric Feminism is ready to evolve and pluralize with the development of Matricentric Indigenous Feminism, Matricentric Black Feminism, Matricentric LGBTQ2S+ Feminism, and more. Even though Matricentric Feminism is “informed by the African American feminist commitment to the epistemological importance of lived experience, while also being informed by third-wave feminism’s commitment to intersectional analyses,” O’Reilly herself recognizes that it is a “new and emergent feminism” and her attempt to define it was “partial and provisional.”

As such, this paper concludes with a rally cry for the development of “Matricentric Feminisms” that are representative of teen mothers, BIPOC mothers, gay mothers, trans mothers, adoptive mothers, foster mothers, stepmothers, disabled mothers, othermothers, fathers who mother, under-resourced mothers, and last, but not least, white, suburban mothers.

Special thanks to Dr, Andrea O’Reilly, Demeter Press, and York University for the opportunity to present at this truly HERstoric conference!