Mothering Without Mom: Exploring My Narrative of Immigrant Motherhood
Affiliation
University of South Florida
Department or Program
Curriculum and Instruction; English Education
Start Date
15-4-2017 10:55 AM
End Date
15-4-2017 11:25 AM
Presentation Keywords/Areas
Emerging trends in Qualitative Research
Additional Presentation Keywords/Areas
Researcher as Writer (Auto-Ethnography, Narrative Inquiry, etc).
Additional Presentation Keywords/Areas
Identity and Self-Inquiry
Abstract
There is an interesting notion a “universal mothering ideology” (Hays, 1996) exists in the United States. However, literature suggests racial and cultural contradictions of motherhood vary among mothers (Arendell, 2000; Sutherland, 2010). Mothers as purveyors of an ethnic culture affect how they parent (e.g., Glassman & Eisikovts, 2006). Often ignored in the normative story of motherhood and the ideal of the “good” mother are narratives of immigrant mothers. This is due in part to current anti-immigration sentiment, which prevents immigrant mothers from sharing their stories (Chavez, 2007; Irving, 2000).
In this autoethnography, I draw from Rothman’s (2000) theoretical framework about ideologies affecting mothers to explore my narrative of motherhood and the challenges of passing down to my children the values prevalent in another country while remaining loyal to my mother’s lessons now that she is gone. To illustrate the cultural negotiation of my immigrant mother identity bearing a biracial child, I provide a mixed media arts-based representation of my analysis and discussion of immigrant mothers’ concerns regarding our bodies and parenting. By sharing my anxieties as a Filipino mother and connecting my story with the memory of my own immigrant mother, I address cultural issues about motherhood that vary across contexts. I hope that by giving voice to the cultural narratives of motherhood that challenge the universal mothering ideology, other mothers (especially those of color) are encouraged to reflect on and share their mothering narratives.
Mothering Without Mom: Exploring My Narrative of Immigrant Motherhood
There is an interesting notion a “universal mothering ideology” (Hays, 1996) exists in the United States. However, literature suggests racial and cultural contradictions of motherhood vary among mothers (Arendell, 2000; Sutherland, 2010). Mothers as purveyors of an ethnic culture affect how they parent (e.g., Glassman & Eisikovts, 2006). Often ignored in the normative story of motherhood and the ideal of the “good” mother are narratives of immigrant mothers. This is due in part to current anti-immigration sentiment, which prevents immigrant mothers from sharing their stories (Chavez, 2007; Irving, 2000).
In this autoethnography, I draw from Rothman’s (2000) theoretical framework about ideologies affecting mothers to explore my narrative of motherhood and the challenges of passing down to my children the values prevalent in another country while remaining loyal to my mother’s lessons now that she is gone. To illustrate the cultural negotiation of my immigrant mother identity bearing a biracial child, I provide a mixed media arts-based representation of my analysis and discussion of immigrant mothers’ concerns regarding our bodies and parenting. By sharing my anxieties as a Filipino mother and connecting my story with the memory of my own immigrant mother, I address cultural issues about motherhood that vary across contexts. I hope that by giving voice to the cultural narratives of motherhood that challenge the universal mothering ideology, other mothers (especially those of color) are encouraged to reflect on and share their mothering narratives.
Presentation Type and Comments
20-minute paper presentation