Regretting motherhood

In a provocative exploration of a fundamental taboo, Orna Donath looks at the correlation between the social dictates of motherhood and the rarely expressed feelings of regret voiced by mothers who wish they had not had children. Her thoughtful and well-researched study of 23 women who, though they love their children, say they wish they had not become mothers, makes a clear case for why we need to ensure that motherhood is an informed choice rather than an enforced role. Donath asks why regretting motherhood sparks such controversy and prompts us to question the paths into which women are channelled, while other paths are blocked or erased. Long overdue, this book invites us to rethink social notions not only about motherhood but also about relationships, emotions, and time.