Hi Reader,

When I talk about the social structures that shape motherhood, I’m talking about the cultural beliefs that affect our everyday mothering experiences, whether we know about them consciously or not. It’s the ideas and conditioning we grew up with that define how we behave as mothers. And often, with the structures of patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism, these cultural beliefs end up making motherhood harder than it needs to be.

So what about religion? Religion itself is tricky to define, but I think we can generally agree that it is usually seen as a social-cultural system of behaviors, morals, beliefs, worldviews, and texts that generally relate humanity to the supernatural. Which means it is a system that absolutely affects the everyday experiences of mothering, whether we consider ourselves religious or not.

Unlike the systems of patriarchy, white supremacy, or capitalism, I don’t think religion itself is inherently oppressive. I don’t think the relationship between humans and the divine is necessarily one that reflects a hierarchy of domination. I believe there are religious or spiritual beliefs that can support mothers and women, and that a spiritual practice that centered and affirmed women and mothers could be incredibly nourishing and rich.

But we have absolutely seen how religion has been used to justify horrifying actions against huge populations of people, both historically and contemporarily. Misogynistic, authoritarianism theocracy has controlled and dominated women’s bodies (and other marginalized people) for millennia around the world.

I don’t have a problem with religion. I have a problem with religious beliefs that say that the systems of patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism are divinely ordained by God.

Click here to read the rest: How religion affects motherhood. This blog is the last in my four-part blog series in which I dive into four cultural forces that oppress modern motherhood in America. You can read the other posts here:

• ​Patriarchal Motherhood​
• ​What white mothers need to know​
• ​Why does capitalism make motherhood so hard?​

Upcoming Events

The next book club discussion of the Mother Circle group is Sunday, April 23, at 2pm ET / 11am PT and we’ll be talking about the book Revolutionary Mothering: Love on the Front Lines edited by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, China Martens, and Mai'a Williams. If you haven’t already registered, you can do so by clicking on the event link and signing up for the Mother Circle Book Club! (Don’t forget to hit “Add to Calendar” so it’s on there!)

In mothering solidarity,

Susie Fishleder

​www.susiefishleder.com​