Discourses of motherhood and drug addiction in recovery communities under criminal legal supervision

• In Event: 50255 - "Doing Public Sociology": Sociological Practice in the Community

Abstract

The societal moral response to motherhood continues to adhere to hegemonic definitions, which contribute to the affirmation of two contrasting views of mothers: the self-sacrificing “supermom” who gives everything to support her children, and the mother who struggles to cope with her role and responsibilities.
Our research examines the narratives of 95 individuals involved in substance abuse recovery communities to center discourses of motherhood as they operate in these contexts. Participants occupy multiple institutional locations and include men and women, mothers and children, family members, and service providers. We examine understandings of motherhood from the perspectives of these various groups using an intersectional research design.
An expansive theme of motherhood emerged, yielding multiple references to mother-child relationships and mothers’ roles and responsibilities generally. We explored these emergent narratives using an inductive thematic analysis, allowing us to create new knowledge from the ground up and leading to several theoretical propositions. Themes from this analysis include:
1. Mothers’ intergenerational addiction problems
2. Mothers’ abuse and neglect of children
3. Mothers’ abandonment and betrayal
4. The legal control of motherhood
5. Motherhood as a path to redemption
6. Mothers to blame
7. Mothers to rescue
The study’s findings provide new theoretical propositions that move beyond assumptions rooted in hegemonic motherhood by addressing discourses of motherhood that center agency, courage, strength, and recovery from trauma-induced drug addictions. These propositions provide opportunities to contribute to cultural and health-oriented theories of motherhood. Furthermore, the study’s findings offer important context for the design and implementation of programs and policies.

Authors

• Monica Solinas-Saunders, Indiana University Northwest

• Kevin L. McElmurry, Indiana University-Northwest

• Natasha R Brown, Indiana University

• Mark Thomas, Indiana University

• Maureen Petrunich Rutherford, Indiana University