Changes in Motherhood Over the Past Few Decades

Motherhood used to be a very sacred thing. It was a highly honored and honorable profession and career. Sadly, motherhood no longer holds such a position of honor in our society. On the other hand, this honor coincided with an inflexible, stereotyped, second class role. Motherhood was venerated in part to keep women content with their subordinate status.

Over the last few decades, however, some women have cast off traditional roles and subordinate roles. For the most part, these changes are positive and long overdue. However, of the unfortunate consequences of these changes is that more and more women are having children even though they actually have little genuine interest in being mothers. This is unfortunate for the mothers but it is even more unfortunate for their children. As career opportunities opened up for women and they begin earning recognition, status and high salaries, many women began choosing these rewards rather than the traditional rewards of motherhood with all the accompanying stereotypes. Consequently, many of these women became mothers with less than a full commitment to raising their children. They - or their partners - wanted children, but without having to make any sacrifices in terms of career recognition, status and advancement.

More and more children are being raised by mothers and fathers who are too busy with what they consider to be more important activities than attending to the emotional and development needs for their kids. While many traditional moms came under fire for being too involved in the parenting role - for being over protective and over ambitious for their children and fro smothering them - some career focused moms are clearly under involved in parenting. Mothers who are so preoccupied with their careers that they are unsympathetic to the needs of their children may prove to be more harmful to their children than smothering mothers were.

Children who grow up with indifference instead of nurturing and loving attention become lonely, insecure, alienated and poorly adjusted adults. While these character traits cannot be attributed to a mother's influence alone, they can be associated with a mother's role in development.

Fortunately, many modern women, in spite of the difficult challenge, have found a meaningful balance between motherhood and fulfilling careers. These women choose motherhood freely and joyfully. Raising their children is their top priority. In most cases, these women have partners who share not only their priorities but the tasks and demands of parenting as well.