A hostile desire of not to being mothers: a counter-hegemonic identity

Abstract

This article aims to highlight the discourse and social presence of those women who have decided to not become mothers, and who in many cases, has became a desire. Thus, this research has been done carrying out in-depth interviews to ten women, aged between 26 and 58 years old. Through their testimonies we identify the different social pressures, demands and stigmas that women who decided to not become mother constantly face. As a result of this work, we realize how, still in the 21^st century, female identity continues to be built up around motherhood as an ontological vision of what women should be. On the other hand, non-motherhood is culturally understood as a hostile identity which represents a desire socially considered counter-hegemonic. In this sense the antimaternal discourse practically lacks of representations, references and spaces in other to make it visible as needed in today’s society. To sum up, non-motherhood represents a desire and a practice as laudable as any other. As the same time, as a consequence of questioning the prevailing gender mandates and stereotypes, it represents an absolutely counter-hegemonic discourse on female identity.