Unpacking the Power of the Mommy Wars

Abstract

In recent years, Mommy Wars discourse, or an expressed judgment between mothers who work for pay and those who stay at home with their children, has emerged as a significant part of American culture. Yet knowledge about both its substantive underpinnings and the breadth of its influence across racial groups is limited. On these points, some research has suggested that racial differences regarding adherence to particular mothering ideologies will drive Mommy Wars discourse among white, middle‐class mothers but not among African American, middle‐class mothers. This study investigates 125 middle‐class yet racially diverse mothers about the content and prevalence of Mommy Wars discourse among their peers. Contrary to expectations, Mommy Wars discourse, although based on strong beliefs regarding appropriate maternal practices, was limited in its scope. In addition, Mommy Wars discourse was a minority perspective among the peers of white, middle‐class mothers, but a plurality perspective among the peers of African American, middle‐class mothers.

From Tupperware to Scentsy: The gendered culture of women and direct sales

“…Unlike the 1950s era, today's woman is faced with the conundrum of choice. Crowley () evaluates this choice as part of the contemporary discourse on “Mommy Wars”—the battle between working mothers and those who stay at home and the competition that ensues between the two as to who is more deficient in mothering. For American women, this choice is often a privilege determined by social class and race.Lamoreaux (), Clarke (), and Vincent () found the imaging of direct sales, it's messaging, and recruitment strategies targeted White, middle‐class women with breadwinning husbands that do not necessarily need to work.…”

“…Unlike the 1950s era, today's woman is faced with the conundrum of choice. Crowley (2015) evaluates this choice as part of the contemporary discourse on "Mommy Wars"-the battle between working mothers and those who stay at home and the competition that ensues between the two as to who is more deficient in mothering. For American women, this choice is often a privilege determined by social class and race.…”

When “Best I Can” is Not Enough: Welfare Managers’ Appraisal of Clients’ Mothering Practices

“…This landscape is especially treacherous to navigate as family life and expectations constantly change (Gerson ). Parenting in general, and mothering specifically, is contentious and subject to scrutiny from a variety of sources (Crowley , ; Hays ; Milkie, Pepin, and Denny ). One illustration of contention surrounding mothering practices is the public debate around breastfeeding (Carter, Reyes‐Foster, and Scott Carter ).…”

“…One illustration of contention surrounding mothering practices is the public debate around breastfeeding (Carter, Reyes‐Foster, and Scott Carter ). The extent of disagreement over which mothering practices constitute the “best” way to raise a child has created what we now call “the mommy wars” (Crowley , ; Hays ). The “mommy wars” are a cultural narrative of conflict between mothers that amplifies the scrutiny placed on mothering practices (Crowley ; Gerson ; Milkie, Pepin, and Denny ).…”

An Exploration of Workplace Interventions for Women with Postpartum Depression Symptoms

“…There has been ample research around this dilemma and it serves to emphasize the point that making the decision to return to work after the birth of a child is not only a matter of physical, psychological, and economic well-being, but also one that is deeply intertwined with the socially-constructed identity labels applied to different types of mothers (e.g. the working mother versus the stay-at-home mother; Crowley, 2015;Elgar & Chester, 2007;Mudry, Kushner, & Neufeld, 2010;Pedersen & Kilzer, 2014). Balancing these issues can be difficult for a mother who is well-adjusted, such as the women in the previously cited studies, yet for women with postpartum depression, there is an amplified stress response due to poor coping abilities including fatigue, difficulties in soothing and caring for baby, and debilitating sense of incompetence ).…”