Rural Mothers

Evidence from research suggests that there are historical and cultural variations in motherhood and mothering across the globe. This is the premise that often informs any discussion about motherhood and mothering within social and geographic contexts, such as the rural setting.

The lives of rural and urban mothers are often vastly different, particularly in developing countries. Often, rural areas offer much less access to health care, greater poverty, lower levels of education, and lower living standards, including less access to clean water, adequate nutrition, and elementary sanitation. In addition, rural areas follow cultural traditions more often than urban areas, and rural women may be subject to more restrictions in terms of expected behavior, life choices, and so on. Families in rural areas tend to be larger ...