the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

246
is being translated into reallty. the previously existing
mother - child lnteractlon is converted to interaction
between parent and child. The concept of 'mother' 1s
extended to mean any person of either sex. A growing
awareness of the lmportance of fathering has been created in
soclety where full-tlme mothering is no longer the norm.
With tlme, stereotypes have changed. Fathers have become
frlends, and as work and career have become an Integral part
of a woman's life, mothers no longer bear the demlgod tag
The role of the mother today depends on how effectively the
partner plays the role of the father The reallzatlon that
fathers are parents too, and the recognltlon that what
chlldren need 1s the warm, loving attentlon of a few
cons1s:ent caregivers, not the full time devotlon of the
mother alone --- amply illustrated in Eerland and Woman On
the Edge of Time --- are factors that have revamped the
maternal rcle The advent of women lnto the professional
stream and tbelr new role as pravlder, has necessitated a
reshuffl~ng of roles, enabllng men to explore their homemaking
aptltude The sharlng sf the provider role by the
mother calls :or a sharing of the 3urturer role by the
father Role sharing, however, does not mean role reversal,
it d3es not mean that the mother takes over the provlder
role exclus~vely and the father the chlld-care role. Nor 1s
role sharing the same as mere helping Just helping does