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Balancing pleasure and pain : the role of motherhood in home education
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Morton, Ruth Beatrice (2011) Balancing pleasure and pain : the role of motherhood in home education. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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WRAP_THESIS_Morton_2011.pdf - Submitted Version Download (2199Kb) | Preview |
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b2568908~S1
Abstract
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Home Education in England and Wales is
growing in popularity. Despite this apparent growth, there is currently little
research into home education in the UK from a sociological perspective. Based
on data collected in an in-depth qualitative study of home educating groups and
families during 2007, this thesis examines the motivations, practices and
experiences of home educating parents.
Despite the 'alternative' image of home education, constructions of parenthood
within home education are highly gendered, with mothers and fathers tending to
take on traditional gender roles. Mothers therefore perform the majority of the
intense physical and emotional labour of home education. Home education
expands the motherhood role beyond that predominantly found in contemporary
society (providing fulfilment for many mothers), while simultaneously reinforcing
normative images of motherhood. Where fathers are involved in the day-to-day
process of home education this tends to be in a secondary role with mothers
maintaining a significant role in the home education process. Home education
is therefore a meeting point for mothers' constructions of childhood, motherhood
and education. These constructions can be split into three 'types': 'Natural',
'Social' and 'Last Resort'.
The interrelation of motherhood, childhood and education within home
education and their co-location within the family means that notions of
pedagogy and education become an extension of the socialisation process
focussed on the individual child rather than education being seen as a separate
process. Home education is therefore a project of motherhood which focusses
on family and self and relies on the maintenance of a balance between personal
labour and fulfilment.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman L Education > LC Special aspects of education |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Home schooling -- Great Britain, Motherhood, Mother and child | ||||
Official Date: | September 2011 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Department of Sociology | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Parker, Andrew, 1965- ; Hughes, Christina, 1952- | ||||
Extent: | 331 leaves | ||||
Language: | eng |
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