Motherhood - Philosophy for Everyone

Editor SHEILA LINTOTT is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Bucknell University, and the mother of two children. Series Editor FRITZ ALLHOFF is an Assistant Professor in the Philosophy Department at Western Michigan University, as well as a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian National University’s Centre for Applied Philosophy and Public Ethics.

"This book opens the doors about Motherhood and covers a range of issues mother's face in a refreshing and thought provoking way." (Motherhoodsupport.com, 22 March 2011) "The series editors were ... smart to divide it into two volumes instead of creating a single book on parenting in general. While there are many questions that apply to the parent role in itself, half the fun is the opportunity for the authors and readers to consider what issues might be thought of as unique to one particular parental role versus another. One of the virtues of these collections is how they demonstrate the ways in which the study of philosophy can really assist us in addressing concrete dilemmas. Measuring the success of collections like these turns on what you expect from them, and I think these two pull it off. The articles are well-written, touches of humour are sprinkled throughout, and the authors can translate complex philosophical theories into a readable format. They apply their work to questions that matter, and even when you don't agree with what they say, there's enough substance here to create an interesting discussion." (The Philosopher's Magazine, 23 March 2011)"Subtitled "The Birth of Wisdom", a new book called Motherhood: Philosophy For Everyone calls for a more pragmatic approach to being a mum, in which we are not constantly comparing ourselves to others." (Family Interest, December 2010)"An unusual look at motherhood by several philosophers, which covers ground-such as whether it is ever acceptable to lie to your children- not often explored in maternity books.  Thought provoking." (Mother and Baby, December 2010)

• Foreword xJudith WarnerAcknowledgments xvSheila LintottNavel-Gazing at Its Finest: An Introduction to Motherhood – Philosophy for Everyone 1Sheila LintottPart I MOMMY BRAIN: Truth, Knowledge, and Belief in Mothering 151 How Many Experts Does It Take to Raise a Child? Mothering and the Quest for Certainty 17Sue Ellen Henry2 Creative Mothering: Lies and the Lying Mothers Who Tell Them 29Amy Kind3 Pro-Choice Philosopher Has Baby: Reflections on Fetal Life 41Bertha Alvarez Manninen4 Kim, Ellen, and Zack’s Big Adventure: Lesbian Mothers Raising a Boy Steeped in His Masculinity 52Kim AnnoPart II LABOR PAINS: The Work and Wonder of Being a Mom 635 Days and Nights of a New Mother: Existentialism in the Nursery 65Elizabeth Butterfield6 Mindful Mothering: How Feminist Buddhist Practices Enhance Experiences of Beauty 77Sheryl Tuttle Ross7 A Face Only a Mother Could Love? On Maternal Assessments of Infant Beauty 89Glenn Parsons8 Kevin, Coming Into Focus: On Getting to Know My Son 100Laura NewhartPart III MOM’S MORALITY: Ethical Issues in Mothering 1159 Making Choices: The Ethics of Infant Feeding 117Chris Mulford10 Lactational Burkas and Milkmen: On Public Breastfeeding and Male Lactation 129Maureen Sander-Staudt11 On “Crying-It-Out” and Co-Sleeping 141Kevin C. Elliott and Janet L. Elliott12 Natural Childbirth is for the Birds 154Jen BakerPart IV Is Motherhood Everything You Thought It Would Be? Fantasy Meets Reality 16713 The Off Button: Thought Experiments and Child Control 169Sara Goering14 The Virtues of Motherhood 180Nin Kirkham15 The Media Proudly Present: “Lessons” From Celebrity Moms 191Clemence Due and Damien W. Riggs16 God, Mom! The Blessings of Breasts and Womb 202George A. DunnA Brief Afterword: Some Words from Contributors’ Kids on Motherhood and Philosophy 213Read All About It: A Feminist Bibliography on Pregnancy and Mothering 215Compiled by Amy MullinNotes on Contributors 222