Social devices for impelling women to bear and rear children

Name: Social devices for impelling women to bear and rear children
Author: Leta Stetter Hollingworth

By Leta Stetter Hollingworth

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Gender & Sexuality Studies Parenthood & Family Relations Sociology

About This Book

The essay analyzes how societies use institutions and cultural mechanisms to encourage women to bear and rear children. Arguing that motherhood's burdens—pain, risk, prolonged caregiving, and sacrifice—are often masked by sentimental notions of a universal, all-consuming maternal instinct, the author challenges claims unsupported by quantitative evidence and suggests maternal inclination varies across individuals. Drawing on frameworks of social control, the essay surveys means such as public opinion, law, religion, education, social types, and custom to show how norms and ideals are produced and enforced to distribute reproductive labor and preserve group interests.

About the Author

Leta Stetter Hollingworth

Leta Stetter Hollingworth was an American psychologist and educator known for her pioneering work in the field of gifted education. She is particularly recognized for her research on children with exceptionally high IQs, as detailed in her notable work "Children Above 180 IQ Stanford-Binet: Origin and Development." Hollingworth's contributions extended to the social implications of women's roles in society, as explored in her book "Social Devices for Impelling Women to Bear and Rear Children." Her insights into special talents and defects further enriched the understanding of individual differences in learning and development. Through her writings, Hollingworth played a significant role in shaping educational practices for gifted individuals.