the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

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without a spouse than to try to secure the help of one
Single mothers see men as a hindrance rather than a help in
combining work and motherhood To them, balancing career,
housework, children and husband seems a tougher job than
managing career, housework and children
6.4.2. Should the cholce then be an either / or one - as
Meridlan of Meridian and Kate of The Sumxner Before the Dark
are forced to make - a choice between family and career? Or
1s it practically possible to integrate motherhood wlth
career as Rosamund of The Millstone succeeds In achieving?
For many femlnlsts, motherhood loses lts significance unless
:t is interwoven wrth work outslde home. Srmcne de Beauvolr
remarks
[A woman1 cannot consent to brlng forth 1:fe
unless llfe has meaning, she cannot be a mother
wrthout endeavouring to play a role In the
economic, pollt~cal and soclal llfe of the tlmes
the woman who en]oys the rlchest individual
lzfe wrll have the most to glve her chlldren and
wlll demand the leasr from them, she who acqulres
In effort and struggle a sense of true human
values wlll be best abie to brlng them up properly
(1971.540)
In thls context, the dlstlnction between workxng women and
working mothers cannot be overlooked
The predicament of
the worklng mothers is even more lntense as thelr task
lncludes ownlng physlcal and emotional responsibll~ty for
their children, husband, home and career. Added to thls 1s
the plaguing sense of yullt that is foisted on them by an