Four mothers : an intimate journey through the first year of parenthood in four countries / Abigail Leonard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Leonard, Abigail (Journalist), author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Motherhood.

Motherhood--Cross-cultural studies.

Motherhood--Social aspects.

Motherhood--Finland.

Motherhood--Japan.

Motherhood--Kenya.

Motherhood--United States.

Mothers--Social conditions.

Mothers.

maternity.

Genre:

Informational works.

Physical Description:

280 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

4 mothers

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill : Little, Brown and Company, 2025

Summary:

"Tsukasa in Japan grapples with memories of a difficult childhood as she tries to chart a new, healthier path for her own daughter while balancing onerous cultural expectations. Chelsea in Kenya endures a devastating loss just before she gives birth and finds that without the traditional support of previous generations, motherhood can be grueling - but it can also provide emotional healing. Anna in Finland navigates a complicated relationship with her child's father, but the country's robust family policies allow her to still pursue the kind of parenthood that she envisioned. Sarah in the US leaves the religious community that raised her in order to create a less traditional family of her own only to find she's largely confronting motherhood alone. Utterly moving and propulsively readable from page one, Leonard interweaves these stories with a critically researched exploration of how parental support programs evolved in each country--and why some provide more help than others. As nations around the world debate programs like paid leave, universal daycare, reproductive healthcare, and family tax incentives, Four Mothers offers a uniquely intimate, moving portrait of what those policies mean for parents on the ground--and considers what modern families really want."--Publisher.

ISBN:

1643756532

9781643756530

OCLC:

1455105925

Publisher Number:

90102163976