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'When are you having children?' 'Why didn't you have another child?' 'Well, I guess that's your choice, but...'
'They are questions asked of women all the time. Beneath them is the assumption that all women want to have children, and the judgement that if they don't, they'll be somehow incomplete. And that's only the beginning ... With parenthood taking centre stage in today's moral and consumer culture - and yummy-mummies and domestic goddesses the stars of the show - being a mother, or not being a mother, has never been so complicated. It seems the list of rights and wrongs gets longer daily, with guilt-ridden mothers everywhere struggling to keep on top of it all, and non-mothers struggling in a culture that defines women by their wombs. In this collection of fiction and non-fiction stories, Australia's best women writers reflect on motherhood. Their stories tackle everything from the decision not to have children to the so-called battle between working and stay-at-home mums. From infertility and IVF, to step-parenting and adoption, to miscarriage and breastfeeding, child meltdowns and marriage breakdowns, the stories explore and celebrate the full gamut of the motherhood experience, and give a much needed voice to those who won't ever be called 'Mum'.' (Publication summary)
Contents
- The New Grandparents, single work autobiography (p. 5-14)
- The God Box, single work essay (p. 15-23)
- Mothers, single work essay (p. 24-34)
- Writing Gully, single work essay (p. 35-42)
- On the Bus, single work essay (p. 43-60)
- Future Brooke, single work essay (p. 61-73)
- Interior. Kitchen Table. 10:45 AM, single work essay (p. 74-83)
- Why I Choose to Not Have to Make a Choice, single work essay (p. 84-94)
- Thirty Seconds, single work essay (p. 95-102)
- As a Mum, single work essay (p. 103-111)
- Mothering in a Time of Fear, single work essay (p. 112-120)
- Main Street, single work short story (p. 121-136)
- Grief, single work essay (p. 137-146)
- The Motherhood Penalty, single work essay (p. 147-156)
- Other People's Kids, single work essay (p. 157-168)
- Motherland, single work essay (p. 169-185)
- The Storm, single work essay (p. 186-196)
- Twelve Years of Looking After Luke, single work essay (p. 197-215)
- Goat Song, single work short story (p. 216-227)
- The Childless Side of the Room, single work essay (p. 228-240)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
What It Takes to Be a Mum – And What It Takes Away
The Highs and Lows of Parenting
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 6-7 June 2015; (p. 35) The Canberra Times , 6 June 2015; (p. 16) The Age , 6 June 2015; (p. 37)
— Review of Mothers & Others : Australian Writers on Why Not All Women Are Mothers and Not All Mothers Are the Same 2015 anthology essay short story ; Mothermorphosis : Australia's Best Storytellers Write About Becoming a Mother 2015 anthology autobiography -
Mum's the Word
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian , 9-10 May 2015; (p. 16)
— Review of Mothermorphosis : Australia's Best Storytellers Write About Becoming a Mother 2015 anthology autobiography ; Mothers & Others : Australian Writers on Why Not All Women Are Mothers and Not All Mothers Are the Same 2015 anthology essay short story
-
Mum's the Word
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The Australian , 9-10 May 2015; (p. 16)
— Review of Mothermorphosis : Australia's Best Storytellers Write About Becoming a Mother 2015 anthology autobiography ; Mothers & Others : Australian Writers on Why Not All Women Are Mothers and Not All Mothers Are the Same 2015 anthology essay short story -
What It Takes to Be a Mum – And What It Takes Away
The Highs and Lows of Parenting
2015
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 6-7 June 2015; (p. 35) The Canberra Times , 6 June 2015; (p. 16) The Age , 6 June 2015; (p. 37)
— Review of Mothers & Others : Australian Writers on Why Not All Women Are Mothers and Not All Mothers Are the Same 2015 anthology essay short story ; Mothermorphosis : Australia's Best Storytellers Write About Becoming a Mother 2015 anthology autobiography