By Meagan Welch
The 2024 issue of the Journal of Mother Studies centers on themes of healing and connection. When I came across the call for presentations for this year’s MoM conference—Threads of Connection–Sorry/Not Sorry: Confronting Mother (and Other) Blame–Healing & Resistance in Contemporary Culture and Beyond—I was struck by how closely it resonated with my own dissertation work. I had long felt isolated in the field of psychology, which, as Andrea O’Reilly aptly described on Chelsea Robinson’s podcast, remains “the last great holdout of matricentric feminism.” I couldn’t agree more. Mother blame and shame continue to thrive within the psychology academy, a fact that underscores the importance of open access, interdisciplinary scholarship supported by independent publications like the Journal of Mother Studies.
The MoM Museum, JourMS, the MoM conference, and the entire body of work by academic artist Martha Rose Joy provide a nexus for the next wave of matricentric feminism to flourish. In this inclusive yet critical space, the lived experiences of mothers are expressed, examined, and shared against a vast backdrop of androcentric literature. One mother’s isolating story of shame and blame transmutes into a healing thread of connection when shared. This thread weaves individual experiences into a collective fabric, transforming what was once a private pain into a belonging one. Apart, power becomes diffused, and the status quo remains. Together, however, that power consolidates and ignites change. This issue coalesces important voices from across genres, amplifying the scholarship of the field while also serving as a light for those struggling alone in the dark.
From the rhetoric of motherhood during Covid-19 and the mischaracterization of maternal struggles, to matrilineal heritage and overcoming systemic barriers, to a study of how mothers with cancer support their children’s resilience, the issue is filled with rich insights. We also explore Black motherhood as resistance in the British Caribbean, the construction of modern motherhood by “momfluencers,” and maternal grief as a site of oppression in literature. These works, along with others, interrogate the complexities of maternal experience across cultural and historical contexts.
Enjoy the depth and diversity of perspectives within these pages. May this issue serve as both a mirror and a map for healing, connection, and resistance in contemporary culture.
- JourMS - 