Voices project
Research question: How does the representation of women in literature and media affect the importance of their roles as mothers and criticize the actions they may take surrounding motherhood?
One of the most interesting things I learned was how prevalent and polarizing the idea of motherhood is in modern feminist movements. Some activists argue that motherhood as a uniting force among women, and it is defining in the struggle for gaining rights and respect as a woman. However, others argue that women have been reduced to their roles as mothers for so long that true empowerment comes from the ability to decide whether or not to be a mother. These contrasting ideals in feminist theory have been at the forefront of discussion for a while, and are likely to continue to be discussed as the movement continues to adapt and change. Another influential idea regarding the topic of motherhood came from the Ted Talk source that I included, which argued that having a working mother bestows many positive qualities on the children, even though many women are criticized for wanting to work instead of being stay-at-home moms. I thought this source was particularly interesting because of the nuances in the argument; its important that every woman does what is best for their family. If staying at home is the best option and the family has the means to do so, that woman should not be judged for not working. Further, a working woman should not be villainized for her decision to work if that is in the best interest for the family.
Motherhood is an extremely individual experience; there truly is not proper way to handle being a mother. The sources I found showed me a wide range of the expectations placed on mothers, and the decisions they choose to make for themselves and their families. Though some of the sources are relatively extreme examples, I hope that those viewing my project can experience this wide variety of motherhood, and consider their own perceptions surrounding the experience. Even small comments or pieces of advice from family members can make a mother feel as if she is not filling her role properly and diminish her confidence, but as mentioned, there is no single way to mother.
Reflection
The most important thing I learned for myself throughout my time at North is resilience. It is not surprising to anyone when I say that we have an incredibly competitive school that creates very high expectations for the students, and sometimes, these expectations very easily become pressures. While it is good to have these goals to aim for, they can sometimes be incredibly overwhelming, and I have had to teach myself how to recenter my focus and keep working through things. Even if I am occasionally turning things in that I would not consider my highest quality, I have still learned how to put a maximum amount of effort in to every project, while still balancing my other academic, athletic, work, and social responsibilities. I think it is very easy for new and experienced students to get overwhelmed by the many influences of their lives at this time, but finding the thing, person, or place that makes you happy and recenters you in your work is extremely beneficial to staying sane throughout the four years. In senior year especially, balance is important. While it is important to stay on top of your academics, finding time to experience being a senior (whether that be hanging out with your friends, going to sporting events, etc.) will help you create memories that you’ll actually want to look back on, instead of only experiencing the homework you were doing that will soon fade from memory. The year should be at least partly celebratory for all of the work you have done.