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Modern Motherhood … changes and challenges

The Family and Parenting Institute and the Open University held a one-day conference on Wednesday 2 July 2008.

The conference heard reports on the findings of two important new research studies undertaken by the Open University which have looked at becoming a mother in the 21st century. It also saw the launch of FPI's new discussion paper - Listening to mother

The two studies are:
The Making of Modern Motherhoods project led by Professor Rachel Thomson and Dr Mary Jane Kehily (Open University).
This study has generated a unique and layered data set capturing how women negotiate the identity and experience of motherhood over generations and over time. The study also defines and addresses two compelling social policy questions: first, whether motherhood is creating new a social division, and second, whether motherhood might also be creating renewed solidarity.

Becoming a Mother project led by Professors Wendy Hollway (Open University) and Ann Phoenix (Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education).
This research studied women in the process of becoming mothers for the first time. It followed 19 women, who all gave birth in the same hospital in Tower Hamlets, for the first year of their babies' lives. Key findings relate to women's experiences of birth and its ongoing impact on their mothering, decisions about feeding and return to work. More broadly it casts light on the huge significance of the variety of supports that the new mothers had access to and how these contributed to their wellbeing and those of their babies.

The full programme and presentations can be seen below:

Opening words

Mary MacLeod OBE, Chief Executive of Family and Parenting Institute

Setting the Scene

Professor Heather Joshi OBE FBA, Director of Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Institute of Education
Summary: Most women now in their 60s and 70s had children, mostly starting in their twenties. Since them the proportion ever having children has fallen modestly, but there has been more change in postponement (over 30) rather than avoidance of motherhood. The changes in timing are not uniform. They are associated with education and careers. Young mothers remain a disadvantaged group. The impact of motherhood on employment has become more diverse, and so has the package of adult attention devoted to bringing up young children, with more paid childcare and direct involvement of fathers.
Setting the scene presentation

Listening to Mother

Sally Gimson, Campaigns Manager, Family and Parenting Institute
Listening to Mother presentation

Making of Modern Motherhoods

Professor Rachel Thomson and Dr Mary Jane Kehily
Making of Modern Motherhoods presentation 

Discussion

led by
Duncan Fisher, Chief Executive, Fatherhood Institute

Becoming a Mother

Professor Wendy Hollway, Open University,
Professor Ann Phoenix, Co-Director, Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education,University of London and
Heather Elliott, Open University
Becoming a mother presentation 

Discussion

led by
Maureen Freely, University of Warwick

Debate: Do we need a new politics of motherhood?

Chair: Fiona Millar, Chair, Family and Parenting Institute

Panelists:
Brid Featherstone: Professor of Social Work and Social Policy,
University of Bradford

Sue Gerhardt: Practising psychoanalytic psychotherapist and author of Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby's brain

Maria Miller MP: Shadow Minister for the Family

Carey Oppenheim: Co-Director, IPPR

Yvonne Roberts: Senior Associate The Young Foundation and
Journalist

CLOSE

Professor Brigid Heywood,Pro Vice-Chancellor, Open University

 

An audio link to hear the presentations will be available soon.

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In the press: Mum is the missing word - Yvonne Roberts, The Guardian, Wednesday July 2, 2008