The Unsustainable Pressure of American Motherhood (Jessica Grose, NYT Opinion Writer)

#201 — Why are so many mothers screaming? Jessica Grose is no stranger to the struggles of American motherhood. Mothers today are expected to be perfect across all areas of life: the sole childcare providers to their kids, devoted wives and housekeepers, goddesses of the domestic realm, and of course, completely ambitious and driven employees.

Jessica Grose is an opinion writer and journalist for The New York Times, a three-time author, and a wife and mother of two. Her first nonfiction book, “Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood” is out December 6, 2022. In it, Jessica dives into the historical background of the unattainable pressures placed on mothers today.

In the episode, we cover:

The concept of the “ideal mother,” and the historical roots of ideas around motherhood, from the early colonial periods through the centuries up through today.

How the work of motherhood and the ideal image of motherhood “has remained consistent” where mothers’ contributions are “insincerely praised, ignored, or actively demonized.”

The myth of the “self-sacrificing mother,” that has to put everyone before herself, and if you don’t, you are transgressing in a major way.

How the education of children used to be in the father’s realm, but then when it became part of the motherhood realm, it became even easier to blame mothers for all things gone awry, specifically the raising of children.

Tune in to this episode to hear Jessica talk about the historical background of these unattainable pressures placed on women and how mother’s today get more and more added onto their plates.