Before and After Motherhood: An Arts-based Phenomenological Study
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Author
Chisholm, Lindsey
Date
2022
Degree
Master of Arts in Art Therapy
Abstract
Experiences of motherhood are individual, yet also informed by the cultural context of
the mother. Current feminist research seeks to understand and improve the conditions that
surround women. This qualitative study uses a feminist phenomenological and an arts-based
approach to explore the lived experiences of 5 mothers. Each participant created two collages,
one representing their perceptions of motherhood prior to having children, and another
representing their experiences after becoming a mother. The participants discussed their artwork
and participated in a semi-structured interview. All data was analyzed thematically with the
assistance of computer software. Results demonstrated the participants’ need for support and
self-care, the negative impact of judgement from other people, and the incongruence between
media representations and the reality of motherhood.