The Therapy Edit One Thing with Dr Sophie Brock on why it’s hard to feel like a good enough mother
Jan 13, 2023
Dr. Sophie Brock, a motherhood studies sociologist and host of The Good Enough Mother Podcast, joins the discussion to explore the complexities of being a mother. She highlights the distinctions between motherhood as a social construct, the act of mothering, and a mother's identity. Using a fishbowl analogy, Sophie explains how societal 'shoulds' influence maternal expectations. By reframing guilt as feedback, she encourages mothers to question these ideals, reclaim their agency, and find support within a community. The conversation is both insightful and empowering!
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Motherhood, Mothering And Mother Are Different
- Motherhood, mothering and mother are distinct concepts that affect how we feel about being a mum.
- Recognising motherhood as a social construct reveals external 'shoulds' that shape our identity and behaviour.
The Fishbowl Analogy For Motherhood
- Sophie uses a fishbowl analogy where the tank represents societal rules and the fish are mothers swimming inside.
- The writing on the tank tells us 'shoulds' like being self-sacrificing, always joyful, and never angry.
Internalised 'Shoulds' Drive Mom Guilt
- When mothers internalise the tank's ideals they treat them as personal truths and judge themselves harshly.
- Naming and questioning those socialised 'shoulds' is the first step to reducing guilt and reclaiming agency.