Mothers on American Television

Mothers on American television: From here to maternity offers an in-depth look at how motherhood is represented on some of the most popular quality television series produced this century and how that impacts on their positioning within a neoliberal society. Taking a feminist, Marxist, cultural studies and psychoanalytical approach, the book provides a history of the positioning of mothers within American society, the newspapers' 'mommy wars', and employment patterns, and offers an alternative view of the way motherhood is regarded. The book argues that American television series betray a deeply held misogyny towards motherhood. It works through a selection of mothers, arguing that they are representative of the way television creators and executives negatively regard motherhood. It also argues that cultural commentators and audiences are unaware of this positioning, and illustrates why this matters to mothers in society. Mothers on American television is essential reading for those who wonder why motherhood is so underappreciated and unsupported in America right now.