Risky Mothers and the Normalcy Project

Abstract

Feminist scholars have been critical of the expectations placed upon mothers to accomplish a perfect version of motherhood, but have often failed to interrogate the values about normalcy and disability imbedded in modern mothering ideologies. Mothers with disabilities are well positioned to expose the underlying beliefs about normalcy with which all mothers must contend. Drawing from interviews and focus groups conducted with mothers who have physical and sensory disabilities, I explore Deaf/disabled women's experiences negotiating the scientific motherhood regime. Illuminating a paradox, I argue these women are labeled "risky mothers" under scientific motherhood, which prizes the management of risk and the prevention of disability. Yet, these mothers are simultaneously rendered invisible by inaccessible and inflexible medical practices, and by a consumer market of expert advice which prescribes that mothers inhabit a typical body. These women's experiences illuminate the normalcy project as a central tenet of scientific motherhood.

Gender, sexuality and relationships for young Australian women with intellectual disability

“…In contrast to the genderless ways in which women with intellectual disabilities are often known, the women's stories showed how their lives were richly and deeply gendered. Taking our cue from Frederick's (2017) connection between disability and gender roles we have considered what happens for the daughters born of the disability risk held by their mothers. We have explored how the stories told by Hayley, Ginette, Anne, Mandy and Neslihan revealed their gendered lives.…”

“…We explore the stories they told of their lives with a focus on gender, in particular stories of romantic relationships. We take Frederick's (2017) assertion that 'disability is the undesired future, the risk, which mothers are held chiefly responsible for containing' (p. 78), and we explore what happens for the daughters born of such risk. How do contemporary young women with intellectual disability relate to ideas and experiences of lives lived within discourses of gender and intellectual disability?…”

Doing Marginalized Motherhood: Identities and Practices among Incarcerated Women in Mexico

“…The women in this study thus did motherhood, and countered the stigma of being "bad mothers" by assuming and emphasizing their role as family providers. However, their "immoral" lives and work often made this a difficult "normalcy project" (Frederick 2017). In a highly gendered and traditional society, it is difficult for women to gain respect through practices associated with the paternal role and when engaged in work that is largely viewed as immoral.…”

“…Being a mother represents an alternative identity to the stigmatized identities of being a prisoner, drug user, or criminal. Motherhood may, in this way, be a symbolic resource in a "normalcy project" (Frederick 2017) both inside and outside prison. Due to their imprisonment however, normative motherhood is frequently a dream or future project that they claim will be realized as soon as they are released from prison.…”

Disability at the intersections

“…Duster (2003) argues the onslaught of genetic screenings may also perpetuate racialized discrimination by linking certain disorders to racial minority groups. And then, women with disabilities who dare to bring children into the world are punished by social worker intervention and inquisition after childbirth (Frederick, 2015(Frederick, , 2017a(Frederick, , 2017b and disproportionate blame when biomedical interventions do not successfully "cure" their children (Mauldin, 2016).…”