Reflection
October 20–21, 2022 MotherNet participants met in Uppsala to discuss possible research collaborations on the topic of “bad” motherhood. The workshop was organized by the Uppsala MotherNet researchers Jenny Björklund and Sigrid Schottenius Cullhed. MotherNet participants from the three partner universities held short presentations on ongoing or planned research on a variety of different topics, such as regretting motherhood, monstrous or murderous motherhood, and mothers with intellectual disabilities who are being defined as “bad” through institutional practices.
A considerable part of the workshop was devoted to discussions of future collaborations. It was decided that a new research cluster, Interrogating “Bad” Motherhood, would be established in MotherNet, and that all members of the network should be invited to participate. All participants in the workshop had started some research on “bad” motherhood and wished the research cluster to focus on how to move on toward publications. During the workshop relevant journals were identified, and a writing schedule with deadlines was set up.
The workshop also involved a much-appreciated cultural event, led by Sarah Arnold (Maynooth University), who showed clips from the film The Quiet Girl that represented motherhood. These representations were discussed and analyzed by the workshop participants.
The workshop concluded with the recording of a podcast on the topic of “bad” motherhood, with MotherNet participants Sigrid Schottenius Cullhed (Uppsala), Sarah Arnold (Maynooth University), Eglė Kačkutė (Vilnius University), and Rūta Šlapkauskaitė (Vilnius University). The podcast is now available on MotherNet Youtube channel. You can also find it on Spotify (just look for MotherNet podcast).
Workshop participants:
Vilnius University: Eglė Kačkutė, Dovilė Kuzminskaitė, Rūta Šlapkauskaitė, Eglė Šumskienė
Maynooth University: Sarah Arnold, Mercedes Carbayo-Abengozar, Valerie Heffernan
Uppsala University: Maja Bodin, Jules Kielmann
Organizers: Jenny Björklund, Sigrid Schottenius Cullhed (Uppsala University)
