ABSTRACT
This chapter, using a theoretical examination of maternalism in social work, describes why social workers must espouse the perspective of ‘strategic maternalism’. Specifically, in the context of supporting single mothers, this discussion addresses the need to understand the problems that arise from gender norms that oppress women—knowledge that does not come from blaming individual women. The concept of ‘strategic maternalism’, first proposed by Motohashi as a means of analysing maternalism in Japanese society, is presented in contrast to ‘essentialist maternalism’ under Patriarchy. While essentialist maternalism recognises that maternal love is conferred naturally to women as the birthing sex and is a strong maternal norm, ‘strategic maternalism’ views naturalistic maternalism as a political device oppressive to motherhood. In other words, strategic maternalism takes a critical stance. Although ‘motherhood’ is an ontological ‘given’ for some individuals, it can simultaneously be an object of oppression, in which women are forced to ‘take responsibility’ (to be responsible) for the children they birth, regardless of their own individual desires and their limited or non-existent options to not become mothers. This chapter argues that motherhood, which comprises engaging with vulnerable others through the provision of care, offers new political possibilities in envisioning a society that embraces diversity and difference, and I call for social change and the political empowerment of motherhood. This chapter contrasts and examines the two views of maternalism, clarifies the position of strategic maternalism, and describes how social work can contribute to empowering single mothers.
