Maternal Instinct

Maternal Instincts brings together seven new essays exploring conflicting visions of motherhood and sexuality in a period during which both terms were undergoing radical change. Representations of both concepts mutated to accommodate different cultural contexts and individual ideologies. Drawing upon sources including literature, film, medical handbooks, popular science, and legal records, the articles collected here construct a vision of motherhood as alternately idealized, discredited, and fragmented by virtue of its connection with sexualities licit and illicit.

In a near-future Australia, no child lives in poverty and every child is safe. But at what cost? 19-year-old Monica never wanted a baby but the laws require her to give birth twice before she can move on with her life. Now that her first son, Oscar, has arrived she's not so sure she wants to hand him over to be raised by professional parents: the Maters and Paters. When Monica turns to her birth mother, Alice, for help, she triggers a series of events that force Alice to confront her own dark past. Alice must decide - help her daughter break the law, or persuade her to accept her fate and do what's best for the nation's children? "Maternal Instinct is a thought-provoking read that's also engrossing. Bowyer adds very real human reactions and emotions into a weird new world. This book is right up any dystopian-fan's alley and will convert others." Aurealis Magazine "If you liked Vox, you'll love this... Amazing debut by Rebecca Bowyer." Emily-Jane Clark, best-selling author of Sleep is for the Weak. "Fans of The Handmaid's Tale will be instantly hooked... Maternal Instinct asks questions about humanity's final destination if we continue down society's current path of no real support for working parents." Virginia Franken, author of Life After Coffee "It's a cracking good read about upholding the rules, until time shows you that maybe the rules aren't right in the first place. This is feminist dystopian fiction at its finest, set in a not-too-distant future that is not at all difficult to envisage. Settle in, because you won't be putting it down any time soon!" Amy Wakley-Ahearn, Handbagmafia "A very well written novel, that I hope many people will enjoy..." ~ Ashleigh Meikle, The Book Muse "Something of a blend of The Handmaid's Tale and 1984, this is a fantastic book. I was hooked early on and didn't want to put this one down. I read it over the course of a family vacation and stayed up far too late at night because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen." ~ Elle, Erratic Project Junkie "The story is amazing, it is unique. I've never ever read anything like this before." ~ Anna S, NetGalley reviewer "Absolutely amazing book. Kept me hooked and wondering what was going to happen with an absolutely bitter sweet ending. I'd love to see a second book carrying on from this! 5 stars." ~ Lauren H., NetGalley reviewer "This book has such an UNIQUE storyline... When I say I couldn't put this book down, I mean I really couldn't." ~ Kade G., NetGalley reviewer "Dystopia at its finest! It gave me "Brave New World" vibes (my all time favourite) which made "Maternal Instinct" a very enjoyable read for me." ~ Bettina M., NetGalley reviewer

In this interpretation of the relationships between mothers and fathers, mothers and babies, and mothers and their social group, Hrdy offers a revolutionary new meaning to motherhood, and an important new understanding of human evolution.

A mother's wish: Give your child the life you didn't have More than anything, Officer Nell Granstrom wants to stop history from repeating itself. Born to a sixteen-year-old mother, Nell had her daughter, Kim, at the same age. Now Kim's sixteen and has a serious boyfriend. But how much weight can Nell's words have? Years of living a careful life are over, because she's made another mistake. After witnessing a terrible crime, Nell turns to her new partner for comfort—which leads to a second unplanned pregnancy. Despite his reputation, Hugh McLean will no doubt offer to do the right thing. But would marriage to a man she hardly knows (and isn't sure she likes) work? For Kim's sake, for the baby's sake, is Nell brave enough to try?

Drug Use, Recovery, and Maternal Instinct Bias: A Biocultural and Social-Ecological Approach draws upon theoretical perspectives in anthropology and public health to provide insight into the barriers women experience when seeking treatment for substance use disorders. In both theoretical perspectives in biological anthropology and social discourse within the United States, there is an emphasis on explaining why women avoid (or should avoid) using psychoactive substances during their reproductive years, especially during pregnancy. Theories of women's drug avoidance during the childbearing years rely on statistics to show that women are less likely to use all types of illicit drugs than their male counterparts. This gender gap, however, is closing in high-income countries (HICs), calling for more research on the biocultural and social-ecological factors contributing to women's drug use and the barriers to their recovery. The book uses qualitative data from participants in Indiana to illustrate women's struggles along the pathway to recovery. The overarching conclusion is that internalized models of “maternal instinct,” a topic inherent in theoretical and public discourse, can often impede efforts for women seeking treatment, and recovery is only possible when proper social and structural supports are in place.

Through her reading of Euripides'Bacchae, Colridge's Christabel, de Sade'sPhilosophy in the Bedroom, and Hitchcock'sPsycho author Alina M. Luna finds precedent for a destructive impulse lurking beneath the maternal gaze.

In this provocative new book, renowned educator and philosopher Nel Noddings extends her influential work on the ethics of care toward a compelling objective—global peace and justice. She asks: If we celebrate the success of women becoming more like men in professional life, should we not simultaneously hope that men become more like women—in caring for others, rejecting violence, and valuing the work of caring both publicly and personally? Drawing on current work on evolution, and bringing concrete examples from women’s lived experience to make a strong case for her position, Noddings answers this question by locating one source of morality in maternal instinct. She traces the development of the maternal instinct to natural caring and ethical caring, offering a preliminary sketch of what a care-driven concept of justice might look like. Finally, to advance the cause of caring, peace, and women’s advancement, Noddings urges women to abandon institutional, patriarchal religion and to seek their own paths to spirituality.