Mothers & Daughters (this class is no longer offered)

What is it about our mothers and daughters that move us to seek the "Motherline:" those truths lost from earlier times, when the bond between women was as given as the turning of the seasons? In this class we will explore the cultural and historical significance of mother, including ancient lore, the invention of motherhood, and the impact of media and " mother blame" as cultural phenomena shaping our values and beliefs. We will come to understand how roles of mothers and daughters have been created and how we define our own mothers and daughters. Most importantly, we will include feminist issues of race, class, disability, and other diversities throughout the semester, and challenge our assumptions of who mothers are and how they mother.