How to ponder over feminist perspectives on motherhood?

To identify feminist perspectives on motherhood, this article will draw on three theoretical tools: a sociology of discrepancies, a ternary model of the body, and a conception of the gender system. These tools will allow us to propose perspectives in three dimensions: biological, social, and spiritual. While strictly biological components focus primarily on the first stage of motherhood, on the reproductive labor involved in conception, feminist perspectives on biological motherhood refer to the potential effectiveness of feminist movements in undermining the normative pressure that combines medical power and the gender order. Regarding the social component, this contribution shows that the evolution of social motherhood is highly heterogeneous. On the one hand, feminist agency has contributed to greater visibility of social motherhood, allowing women access to other positions. On the other hand, this promotion is highly socially centered, and the risk lies in the exploitation of some women by others. Finally, feminist perspectives on spiritual motherhood, which have been little studied, could constitute an alliance between the quest for feminist battles within religious institutions and the emergence of new sacred imaginaries.

Keywords:
Feminist perspectives; motherhood; body; biological motherhood; social motherhood; spiritual motherhood