SHUT IN / SHUT OUT
Women & Mothers:
Navigating Choice Around Being A Parent
A selection of shared stories under the topic of parenthood from the perspective of women* whether they have or have not been a parent.
“When people feel authentically seen and their stories heard, systems respond.” (Judah, 2022)
References (clockwise from left): 'Self Portrait: Past', Katharine Harrison; 'The Synergy of Flesh', Agata Zalesczyk; 'The Birth', 2007, Louise Borgeoise; 'Mum', by Phoebe aged 4, photographed by a participant to study; 'View from the feeding chair', Katharine Harrison; 'Untitled', Barbara Kruger; 'Working mother', Katharine Harrison.
*For the purposes of this project the category of 'woman' includes cis-women, trans-women, and queer women, in short anyone who identifies as a woman.
Conversations
Based on the topic and questions as the conversation starter. Click "Read more" to find out answers, perpectives, thoughts and actions towards choices around being a parent.
Images
If you could pick one object which represents your story/views about parenthood, what would it be?
Highlights
A quick recap on the conversations with and as a woman
Many responsibilities, very tired, no freedom. Requires a lot of patience, losing oneself, unable to do other things due to lack of energy.
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"I feel a very strong solid sense of responsibility and goal to nurture and grow my child into a whole and beautiful human - a strangely strong and focused sense of direction that I didn't have before."
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When there are conflicts between the values of family upbringing, school education, societal norms, it requires communication and balance with others, which can be painful.
"So relevant. As a cis hetero woman who gave birth - I do almost all of it. I breastfed and took mat leave, I'm the one the child goes to at night and times of distress"
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It's like being employed in a job without having option to resign