112. The Rebellion and Refuge of Motherhood: Bodies, Boundaries and Power with Amanda Montei

In this episode, we're joined by Amanda Montei, the author of "TOUCHED OUT: Motherhood, Misogyny, Consent, & Control." Amanda's work, which spans from The New York Times to ELLE, brings a critical eye to the experiences of motherhood under the weight of societal expectations. We talk about the line between the institution of motherhood and our experience of mothering, referencing back to Adrienne Rich’s work and trace some of Amanda’s experience of mothering as transformational, creative, and even radicalizing. Amanda’s work explores the body and consent, and the ways in which parenting is not just an arena where we may pass on beliefs about our bodies, but also for learning about them. Motherhood as an area for self-inquiry and discovery, as well as social and political activism and exploration, is something we discuss - moving between both the broader social and cultural institution and intimate lived experience. Amanda shares her insights on boundaries, good girl conditioning, consent, maternal ambivalence and maternal identity, and motherhood as a source of both constraint and power. Tune in to explore how motherhood can serve as both a refuge and a form of rebellion, reshaping identity and challenging societal norms. Follow Amanda's ongoing exploration of motherhood on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amontei/ or read a copy of her book https://www.amazon.com.au/Touched-Out-Motherhood-Misogyny-Consent/dp/0807013277 or subscribe to her newsletter https://amandamontei.substack.com/