the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

A B S T R A C T
The emergence of feminism has resulted in a heightened
awareness in women, ensued by a questioning of their Status
in society and their familial roles, especially that of
motherhood. The sharp distinction made in the feminist
parlance between woman's 'nature' and 'culture' has had its
impact on the polarisatlon of the old monolith - motherhood
- now split into 'motherhood as biological experience' and
'motherhood as soclal institution' Femlnism Itself 1s
divlded over this issue as motherhood encompasses both the
capacity to free women from bondage and the wlnerabillty to
enslave them further Influenced by these attitudlnal
changes, contemporary women thlnkers have developed
crltlques of long-standing assumptions about motherhood,
highlighting its oppressive rather than its celebratory
aspects It has been perceived however that societal values
have not changed as fast as women are changing In such a
society, how do contemporary women writers react to the
changing attitudes towards motherhood' To examine this
malor question and matters related to lt, a select study of
global women wrlters from America, Black-Amerzca, Britaln,
Canada and India - is undertaken In this dissertation