Mothers and Daughters

What is the course about?

Society reserves certain roles for women, none more obvious than that of the mother, defined by the self-neglecting care for others. According to some feminist theorists, in early childhood the daughter sees the mother’s sacrifice and internalises her victimisation as a model of femaleness. It is no surprise that young girls look at their father as a role model instead of the mothers (as in the Italian feminist classic from 1906, A Woman by Sibilla Aleramo), or that or that mothers cling on to their daughters, restricting their autonomy and happiness, whilst the daughter simultaneously and co-dependently clings on to the mother (as in Hélène Bessette’s Lili is Crying). Another recurring topic is the tension that comes with the daughter’s sexual awakening (Alice Munro’s short story, Wild Swans, from the collection Who Do You Think You Are). Yet the mother might feel imprisoned too. A desire for independence unites both women in their shared fate of oppression in a society dominated by men. Being the mother of a son, by contrast, is the closest that some argue a woman can come to patriarchal privilege.

What will we cover?

The course will cover the mother-daughter bond in social theory and psychoanalysis. In both, it is the site of formation of female identity and as such holds potential for both the maintenance of patriarchy as well as emancipation. The female genealogy is often portrayed as a line of silence, invisibility, emotional neglect or manipulation, even trauma, intensified by the biological bond between the two female roles, lending itself to an essentialist reading. But the connection, real and figurative, can also reclaimed and turned into a positive, like Virginia Woolf, who said “we think back through our mothers if we are women” or the role of the mothers of Hélène Cixous and Annie Ernaux in their writing. Maya Angelou’s autobiographical Mom & Me & Mom recounts a childhood full of maternal neglect from the perspective of the daughter, but tenderly traces the many opportunities for reconciliation during two long lives that ran alongside each other.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Have an understanding of the relationship of mothers and daughters in society
• Have a sense what the cultural construction of roles and meaning is
• Have become familiar with key works of literary fiction, theory and art on the topic of mothers and daughters

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is for all levels. It is suitable for everyone interested in the topic and no prior knowledge is required. However, those who have taken the course “Motherhood: Identity and Cultural Construct” might find it particularly useful for their learning.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course will be delivered as an informal lecture/talk but there will plenty of scope for discussion and questions throughout. Reading suggestions will be provided for students who wish to deepen their learning.
Students who wish to prepare are invited to read the novels suggested above, but this is not mandatory.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

There is no need to bring anything to class apart from note-taking materials (pen and paper or electronic).

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Please look also for other Cultural Studies courses under History Culture and Writing/Cultural Studies at www.citylit.ac.uk.