Question

In "The Awakening," the narrator describes mother-women as "women who idolized their children, worshipped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels." Edna Pontellier feels she can no longer fill this role. Which statements do you think reflect contemporary society’s views of motherhood? Check all that apply.

Option 1: Mothers are primarily viewed as caregivers.
Option 2: Mothers who work outside the home face criticism.
Option 3: Mothers who do not work outside the home face criticism.
Option 4: Mothers are allowed to express negative feelings about motherhood.
Option 5: Mothers must meet higher standards than fathers.
Option 6: Mothers are often asked to forfeit personal goals and desires.

Answer 1

Based on the provided information, contemporary society's views of motherhood include seeing mothers primarily as caregivers, criticism towards working and non-working mothers, and the expectation for mothers to sacrifice personal goals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the provided information, the statements that reflect contemporary society's views of motherhood are:

1. Mother are primarily viewed as caregivers.
2. Mothers who work outside the home face criticism.
3. Mothers who do not work outside the home face criticism.
4. Mother are often asked to forfeit personal goals and desires.

These statements align with the description of mother-women in "The Awakening" as well as the statements from Crittenden and Ogden that discuss societal perceptions and expectations of motherhood. In contemporary society, mothers are generally seen as caregivers, whether they work outside the home or not.

However, working mothers often face criticism for prioritizing their careers, while stay-at-home mothers may be criticized for not pursuing personal goals outside of motherhood. Additionally, the notion that mothers are expected to sacrifice their own goals and aspirations is still prevalent in today's society.