Maternal Thinking: Toward a Politics of Peace

by Sara Ruddick

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year 1989

Philosopher, mother, and feminist Sara Ruddick examines the discipline of mothering, showing for the first time how the day-to-day work of raising children gives rise to distinctive ways of thinking.

Genres: Feminism, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Parenting, Academia, Politics

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1989

Reviews

[Rachel Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who believes that motherhood is weak can not help but be changed by Ruddick's careful analysis. This is not a raving feminist book. It merely suggests that the nurturing skills women learn in mothering could and should be harnassed to help build an environment for positive discussion instead of the testosterone infused conflict of the past.

[Quin Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really surprised me. Ruddick gets caricatured as the epitome of essentialist, naive, white solipsistic, middle class, US centric feminism. She’s actually much more self-aware and critical in her claims that she gets credit for. Of course, she must be supplemented with work by feminist/maternal theorists of color; Dorothy Robert’s, Angela Davis’, and Patricia Hill Collins’ work all immediately comes to mind.

There’s so much here that’s still relevant to contemporary conversations, especially about peacemaking as a daily/ordinary practice; this could offer insights to how to deal with conflict and harm without turning to the police or prison-industrial complex. Very rich text and still worth reading!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book for feminists and peace activists. A new way to conceptualize motherhood and femininity. A must read.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

don't believe what the patriarchy tells you about your mother: mothering is a thinking form of work, practiced with conscience and nurture.

[Cara Byrne]

This is one of those books that I would love to read in the context of a graduate level course. Perhaps when guided by a scholar who studies gender - and can contextualize this book in current feminist ideology and womanist theory - I can better appreciate Ruddick's arguments. That said, she presents some interesting ideas that are worth mulling over.

[Vivian Cassina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of an odd read for any intersectional feminists potentially picking it up. Would recommend for reading about different perspectives on the politics of sex, maternal mentalities, and women’s philosophy. Fits more in the scope of previous generations’ common feminist framework in my opinion.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot to think about but only to think about

[Jeffery Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book about mothering, mothers, maternal thinking, and peace. Ruddick describes mothering as a practice that is open to men and women and does not have a necessary link to giving birth. Her discussion of maternal thinking could be a bit clearer -- what exactly is maternal thinking? And her discussion in the last third of the book about peace tends toward lazy preaching rather than serious argument. But the heart of the book is strong and forces the reader to think about what it is that mothers do and how that can and does impact the way one acts in the world.

Ruddick calls "mothering" a practice. She defines practice in a way that mirrors that of Alasdair MacIntyre, but there is no reference to MacIntyre at all in the book. I suspect that she either hasn't read him or simply dismisses him because of the image he has as being conservative. However, aside from the identical definition of the term practice, Ruddick's book also focused on vulnerability and human suffering the way that MacIntyre's Dependent Rational Animals does. There are more similarities between the philosophy of these two thinkers than differences.

When Ruddick writes of mothering, she makes a strict demarcation between mothering and birthing. Further, when she writes of children being in the world, she writes of children born. She does not mention the embryo or fetus as it develops being dependent on the mother. I find this trying at times. It's obvious that Ruddick does not want to undermine women's right to choose an abortion. But she provides no argument for this, and her text cries out for such an argument. What she says about the relationship between laboring and nursing mothers to their infants holds equally well for the relationship between pregnant mothers and the fetus inside them. I am not trying to push Ruddick's work to be pro-life (though I think it is), but I am asking for arguments.

In fact, what is most disappointing about Maternal Thinking is that, when Ruddick is really passionate about some issue, arguments tend to disappear and she writes with passion but only to the choir. There are many places where argument is needed and could be made.

Overall, I gave the book 5 stars because I think the main idea and the main line of argument is important for everyone to read and understand. She writes accessibly and clearly and interestingly. You won't be disappointed in reading this book.

[Bryan Kibbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be tremendously interesting and engaging, owing in part, I am sure, to its clear structure and arguments. The book is valuable in its own right for its explication of the ways in which the practice of mothering shapes an individual's thinking, but it gains additional value by advancing an interesting argument about the contribution of specifically maternal thinking to the establishment of peace amongst groups and nations. Throughout the book, Ruddick takes special care to avoid overly rosy or glowing portrayals of mothering. Instead, her account is honest in its portrayal of mothers as limited human beings that often fail or fall short, but yet still often succeed and even flourish. This is an important and valuable book for a wide audience to read.

[Kathy McC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful look at the power of "mothering" and thinking like a nuturer. It becomes important for those people who care about the raising of the world's children to organize in order to protect all children from the ravages of poverty, war, illiteracy, and abuse.