Combining sociological feminist analysis with personal narratives, Chase attempts to anchor the historical and social contexts of motherhood in the real world. . . . The book does work, however, mostly because the authors chose to discuss important issues surrounding motherhood and because the structure of analysis and narrative is excellent.
(Choice) In combining theoretical and empirical investigation with the actual personal narratives of caregivers and mothers, this feminist work offers not only an original view of motherhood, but also looks at how issues of race, sexuality, feminism, poverty, and reproductive health affect womenÆs lives.
(Sociological Abstracts) Chase and Rogers confront these confusing and conflicting beliefs about motherhood from an explicitly feminist perspective. They clearly delineate their theoretical framework, making many of their assumptions explicit in the introduction. . . . An illuminating book, providing a much-needed perspective on the concept of motherhood. The chapters and lively and easy to read, and Rogers and Chase make most of their theoretical assumptions transparent allowing the reader to evaluate the presented material for herself.
(Contemporary Sociology) A skillful balance of feminist scholarship and first-person accounts, Mothers and Children richly conveys the many challenges and pleasures of feminist motherhood. Clear, insightful, and moving, the book is ideal for classroom use.
- Linda L. Layne (author of Motherhood Lost: A Feminist Anthropological Analysis of Pregnancy and) Mothers and Children brings theory and experience together to show the complexity of feminist thinking about motherhood. It is a wonderful contribution to the literature on feminism and motherhood.
- Lauri Umansky (author of Motherhood Reconceived: Feminism and the Legacies of the Sixties)
