Elinor Cleghorn on the radical history of mothering

Standard Issue Podcast

Standard Issue

Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 30 March 2026

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The work of mothering has been undervalued for centuries, relegated to the sidelines thanks to patriarchal control of history. In her new book, A Women’s Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering, acclaimed author Dr Elinor Cleghorn brings stories of mothering out of the shadows to show how the women in them shaped history. Jen chats to Elinor about the book, the denigration of mothering as “women’s work”, and the lessons we could learn (as well a few we could forget) from the past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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