the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

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motherly affection simply wells up in women who give birth,
feminist motherhood, as the above examples amply illustrate,
negates the maternal instinct.
Maternal lnstinct does not
refer to reproductive reflexes, but rather to psychological
and soclal aspects of motherhood. Maternal love, therefore,
1s a socially conditloned sentiment, and llke all human
sentiments, it can prove to be frail, fluctuating and
aberrant
Some women may flnd the role of motherhood
congenial, some do not; some perform lt well, some do not
Maternlty 1s '"a strange mixture of narclssxsm, altruism.
Idle day-drearnlng, slncerlty, bad faith, devotion and
cynlclsm" (Beauvolr 1971 528) The mother's attltude
therefore depends on her sltuatlon and her response to lt
and this 1s hlghly varlable
3.4.6.1. Adrienne Rlch and Ellsabeth Badinter attack socral
myths that lead one to belleve in the innate maternal
Instinct, they however eulogrse freely chosen maternal love
Badlnter remarks
Maternal love 1s a human feellng And, llke any
feeling, it 1s uncertain, fraglle and Imperfect
Contrary to many assumptions, lt IS not a deeply
rooted glven In women's natures When we observe
Che hlstorlcal changes ln maternal behavlour, we
notlce that Interest ln and devotion to the chlla
are sometlmes in evidence, sometlmes not
Affection may or may not be present (1981 : xxlll)
Femlnasts, therefore, assert that there is no biologically
based drlve that propels women mto childbearing or forces