Mothering Alone : A Plea for Opportunity (eBook)

A Plea for Opportunity

Mary Kay O'Neil (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022
192 Seiten
Phoenix Publishing House (Verlag)
978-1-80013-086-9 (ISBN)

Infos

'The lives of women are inextricably linked to the well-being of children. If they are not educated, if they are not healthy, if they are not empowered, the children are the ones who suffer.' (UNICEF report, 2006) The study this book is based upon was of a pioneering facilitating programme enabling low-income mothers with little to no outside support to attend college or university. The women's stories are told in their own words and are used to explore the importance of education as a way to improve their and their children's lives. The book begins with an engaging Foreword from Rosemary H. Balsam, FRCPsych (London), MRCP (Edinburgh), Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale Medical School. Followed by the author's introduction, the book is then split into three parts. Part I sets the background of the study itself and of Western societal attitudes towards single mothers over the centuries. Mary Kay O'Neil also investigates common maternal tasks, the effect of parental and relational experiences, the life impact of becoming a mother, and the various influences on the decision mother alone. Part II considers the characteristics basic to effective mothering: resilience, autonomy, and caring. In the light of the author's interest in women's development, Part III explores the psychodynamic understanding of mothers alone without resources, and outlines society's role in providing the opportunity for them to become successful mothers. The parts are followed by an Afterword to summarise what was learned through the women's generous openness and to suggest societal improvements for increased opportunity. The book closes with two Appendices. The first tells the story of O'Neil's mother, who also mothered alone. The second delivers the research findings of the study for those interested in learning more. This clearly written book underlines the UNICEF statement above and does much to engage with the debate on support for those most vulnerable members of society.

Autor

Mary Kay O'Neil, PhD, is a supervising and training psychoanalyst and registered psychologist in private practice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Trained at the Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis, she received her PhD from the University of Toronto and was an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Currently, she is president of the North American Psychoanalytic Confederation (NAPsaC), a member of the board of the Toronto Psychoanalytic Society, and on the faculty of the Toronto Institute. Formerly, she served as director of the Canadian Institute of Psychoanalysis (Quebec English), Montreal, and was a North American representative on the board of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA). In addition, she was a member of a number of IPA committees, including ethics and publications and also on the editorial board of the International Journal of Psychoanalysis. Author of The Unsung Psychoanalyst: The Quiet Influence of Ruth Easser, she co-edited seven other books and has contributed numerous journal articles as well as chapters and book reviews. Her research includes studies of depression, young adult development, sole-support mothers, the analyst as art collector, post-termination contact, and psychoanalytic ethics. Toronto and Montreal Foundations have funded her research activities.

Rezensionen

"This excellent book on mothering alone centres on the author's interviews with women from a program that gave single mothers and their children help with lodging and education. The voices of the women shine through and illuminate many facets of the experience: social and economic aspects, family and traumatic issues, resilience, and much else. Skillfully interwoven with these moving comments are examples from clinical practice and literature, and discussions of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of mothering alone. This impressive book has much to offer anyone with professional or other interest in the topic of mothering alone." Joseph Fernando, MPsyc, MD, Director, Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 21.7.2022
• Verlagsort: Bicester
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Gesundheit / Leben / Psychologie ► Familie / Erziehung
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Familien- / Systemische Therapie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Psychoanalyse / Tiefenpsychologie
• Schlagworte: Maternal Growth • Parental & Partner Relationships • Psychology • solo parenting
• ISBN-10: 1-80013-086-4 / 1800130864
• ISBN-13: 978-1-80013-086-9 / 9781800130869