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Family, Life Course, and Society

Edith Cowan University

Theses/Dissertations

Motherhood

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

The Lived Experience Of Mothering For Women With Multiple Sclerosis, Astrid Marilene Plumb-Parlevliet Jan 2015

The Lived Experience Of Mothering For Women With Multiple Sclerosis, Astrid Marilene Plumb-Parlevliet

Theses : Honours

The lived experience of mothers with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have young children was explored. Using purposive sampling, 10 mothers with MS each participated in an in-depth semi-structured interview. The participants varied in demographics and had varying symptoms of MS. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified four major themes. These themes are: changing life perspective; balancing life with MS; having children; and peer contact. The participants went through a period of avoidance before accepting life with MS and changing their life perspective. Adequately balancing life with MS, by conserving energy and having support networks, was essential to maintaining their well-being. The partners …


Uncertain Surrenders: The Coexistence Of Beauty And Menace In The Maternal Bond And Photography, Toni Wilkinson Jan 2012

Uncertain Surrenders: The Coexistence Of Beauty And Menace In The Maternal Bond And Photography, Toni Wilkinson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This creative inquiry is grounded in my maternal experiences and situated within a feminist approach to photography that develops a discussion of maternal passion and acknowledges the conflicting dynamics of the maternal relationship. The research includes a book of photographs of my children, Georgia and Henry, titled Uncertain surrenders, and a written component explicating the theoretical imperatives that motivated the project. I suggest that the coexistence of beauty and menace within the photographic portraits exquisitely represents the complexity of maternal passion. Julia Kristeva (2005) says, “we lack a reflection on maternal passion” in Western culture because it is an ambiguous …


The 'Good Mother Syndrome' And Playgroup: The Lived Experience Of A Group Of Mothers, Bronwyn Harman Jan 2008

The 'Good Mother Syndrome' And Playgroup: The Lived Experience Of A Group Of Mothers, Bronwyn Harman

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Using a qualitative approach, utilising a semi-structured narrative interviewing technique, I interviewed 21 participants through one-on-one interviews and focus groups to examine how participants experience parenting and playgroup. The good mother syndrome refers to the social, historical and cultural determination of how mothers are supposed to act. It defines what a good mother is supposed to be, subject to political, cultural and economic influences. Further, the good mother syndrome is inextricably linked to challenges to identity, support in the mothering role, and expectations of motherhood. Playgroups are communities of women bounded by internal and external demands, where they support each …