Transformation of motherhood: A study on the changing motherhood experiences between generations

Motherhood, which emerges as a result of women's fertility, is very important in terms of ensuring the continuation of the human generation. Motherhood can be defined as a physical experience that starts with the conception of a child and a role that continues on the axis of meeting the physical and psychological needs of the baby after birth. Although it is seen as a term that covers women who have children, it is affected by all the processes experienced by the society and the motherhood experiences of mothers who raise children with these effects may differ in every period. Therefore, the experience of motherhood, which gains meaning through the socio-cultural structure we live in and is passed on to the next generation, varies from society to society and from period to period as a social construction. This study seeks to understand how the experience of motherhood, which is shaped by social, cultural and political structures, is reproduced and transformed. In particular, changes in perceptions of gender roles can be said to be an important breaking point in the perception of motherhood and the experience of different motherhood practices. In addition, developments in communication technology have also significantly changed perceptions of motherhood. Therefore, this study on changing motherhood is important in terms of addressing the nature of the change in motherhood. In addition, conducting a study on motherhood, which is a woman's experience, is important in that it draws attention to the social and political dimensions of motherhood beyond just a personal experience. In this study, motherhood was tried to be explained in relation to the concepts of gender and patriarchy. The research was conducted on the basis of Konya province with a phenomenological approach and face-to-face in-depth interview technique. In this context, the changing nature of motherhood was tried to be revealed through the data obtained by interviewing 20 mothers from different generations who were mothers in different periods. Participant observation was also conducted within the scope of the study. As a result of the interviews, the change in motherhood according to generations was expressed in relation to motherhood practices. In this way, it was seen that the transformation of motherhood was shaped according to the dynamics of society. As a result, changes in gender perception, women becoming more visible in the labour market, developments in medicine, communication technologies and the impact of the risk society emerge as important breaking points in the change of motherhood practices.