Media Image of Mothers and Motherhood on the Online Parenting Website mama:Du
Media Image of Mothers and Motherhood on the Online Parenting Website mama:Du

Summary/Abstract: The media play a significant role inpromoting a new model of motherhood, observedin social life in Poland. The aim of this article is toreconstruct the media’s portrayal of motherhood andmaternity. The research material comprises titles andleads of press articles published on the online web-site mama:Du. The methodological foundation isdrawn from the premises of cultural linguistics andthe processes of concept profiling. The research ma-terial distinguishes profiles such as a suffering andexhausted mother, a single mother, an independentmother, a (non)working mother, and a mother asa woman. Analysis indicates that despite changes inthe social perception of a woman’s role, the websitepresents a unidimensional image of motherhood, re-ducing women to the mother-child dyad. This imagealigns with the stereotype of the mother as a caregiver.However, there are sparse signals of overturning theseprevalent stereotypes in texts showcasing motherswho call for alteration of established norms. Never-theless, the feminine aspect of a mother, as a womanwho takes care of herself and has her own interestsbeyond caregiving duties, remains invisible. Thus,the medium reflects a realistic, consistent with Pol-ish realities portrayal of motherhood and maternity,gradual striving towards its transformation.

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