ABSTRACT
In Chapter 2, Maternal Objects the author asks: what kinds of objects could represent maternal subjectivity in museums? In an analysis of the William Boyd Childhood Collection at Museums Victoria (MV) and the criteria of “Significance” assessment that guides the museum acquisition process, the author argues for a consideration of maternal objects (those objects that are important to motherhood) in museum collections. The author argues that the criteria of significance assessment needs to be challenged in order for mothers to be represented effectively in museums and then suggests the relational museum model as a valuable framework for a “museology of mothering” because it offers ways of reimagining museum collections and representations of mothering in museums.
