SAGE Reference - The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia

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Myth of Motherhood

By: Melinda Stafford Markham
In: The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia
Edited by: Marilyn J. Coleman & Lawrence H. Ganong
Subject:American Studies, Family Studies (general)
Keywords:child care; children; maternal employment; motherhood; mothers; myths; myths of motherhood

The myth of motherhood is an idealization deeply embedded in American society. The myth states that motherhood is instinctual, it is totally fulfilling for a woman, and the mother is the best care provider for her children. Mothers are responsible for ...

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  Markham, M. (2014). Myth of motherhood. In M. J. Coleman, & L. H. Ganong (Eds.), The social history of the American family: An encyclopedia (Vol. 1, pp. 927-928). SAGE Publications, Inc., https://www.doi.org/10.4135/9781452286143.n377
  
  Markham, Melinda Stafford. "Myth of Motherhood." In The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia, edited by Coleman, Marilyn J., and Lawrence H. Ganong, 927-28. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781452286143.n377.
  
  Markham, M. 2014. Myth of Motherhood. In: Marilyn J. Coleman and Lawrence H. Ganong Editors, 2014. The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia, Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. pp. 927-928 Available at: <http://www.doi.org/10.4135/9781452286143.n377> [Accessed 11 May 2021].
  
  Markham, Melinda Stafford. "Myth of Motherhood." The Social History of the American Family: An Encyclopedia. Edited by Marilyn J. Coleman and Lawrence H. Ganong. Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2014, pp. 927-28. SAGE Knowledge. 11 May 2021, doi: http://www.doi.org/10.4135/9781452286143.n377.
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