THOUGHTFUL `SPELL' LOOKS AT SOCIETY'S EFFECT ON MOTHERS' PSYCHES THIRD Edition

What isn't so obvious - and what Janna Malamud Smith deftly explores in her book "A Potent Spell: Mother Love and the Power of Fear" - is how this fear gets women in its grip, forever changing them in ways they don't always see or acknowledge. Smith, a psychotherapist from the Bo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Boston globe
Main Author English, Bella
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Boston, Mass Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC 10.04.2003
Subjects
Books-titles
Mothers
Nonfiction
Potent Spell: Mother Love and the Power of Fear
Smith, Janna Malamud
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:What isn't so obvious - and what Janna Malamud Smith deftly explores in her book "A Potent Spell: Mother Love and the Power of Fear" - is how this fear gets women in its grip, forever changing them in ways they don't always see or acknowledge. Smith, a psychotherapist from the Boston area, explores the phenomenon from biblical times through today, weaving together history, myth, literature, and contemporary thought. Because keeping their children alive and safe is their overriding mission, mothers react to the world in ways that, Smith argues, have been exploited by society. though the majority of mothers work outside the home, many live with the nagging guilt that maybe they shouldn't be. Such feelings have been fueled by parenting books and articles that hint or state outright that mothers belong at home. At the same time, society has failed to support mothers in their awesome task, Smith argues, by not providing universal health coverage for children, more flexible jobs, and longer, paid maternity leaves. She - and many moms, no doubt - would also like to see the father's role included in the national parenting debate.
ISSN:0743-1791