Abstract

This chapter introduces the central themes of the book and reflects on the expansion of the study of motherhood and maternalism since the 1970s. The chapter briefly considers how far we can talk about an era of “post maternalism” before reflecting in more depth on what has been referred to as “the slipperiness” of the concept of maternalism. We also ask what maternalism potentially offers for marginalized groups of women, for example, migrant women and indigenous women. Finally we provide an overview of the themes and questions addressed in the rest of the book while at the same time introducing each of the subsequent chapters.