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- 15 vintage photos show how motherhood has changed in the US (businessinsider.com)
Motherhood in the US has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past century. From evolving societal norms to shifting parenting trends, the experience of raising children has been continuously reshaped. This evolution is reflected in everything from infant feeding practices to the role of women in the workforce.
In the 1800s, motherhood looked vastly different depending on a woman’s economic status. Low-income women often faced harsh realities, including high infant mortality rates, while wealthier women frequently employed wet nurses, sometimes separating these nurses from their own children.
The late 1800s saw the introduction of commercially available baby formula, which became increasingly prevalent in households by the 1890s. This shift coincided with the rise of industrialization and factory work, as families sought ways to manage their time more effectively.
Infant care manuals promoting scheduled feedings emerged to accommodate working schedules, but this also led to challenges with breastfeeding and increased reliance on formula. Despite the rise of formula, wet nursing remained a popular practice among affluent families well into the 1910s.
World War I marked a significant turning point, with increasing numbers of women entering the workforce. This trend continued throughout the 20th century, leading to innovations designed to ease the burden of household labor, such as the electric washing machine.
The 1910s also witnessed a growing emphasis on scientific approaches to childcare, with government pamphlets and experts offering advice on best practices. This era saw a shift from nurturing parenting styles toward more authoritarian approaches emphasizing discipline.
By the mid-1930s, hospital births became the norm as mothers sought access to medical advancements, although maternal mortality rates initially remained high.
During World War II, the US government implemented a subsidized universal childcare program to support working mothers. This program, however, ended in 1946.
In the 1950s, baby formula was often marketed as a healthier alternative to breast milk, contributing to a decline in breastfeeding rates. By the 1960s, the rise of two-career families further increased the demand for childcare, prompting government initiatives like Project Head Start.
The 1970s saw a resurgence in breastfeeding, fueled by the feminist movement and concerns over formula marketing practices. This period also witnessed increased demand for daycare services as women continued to participate in the workforce. The mid-1980s marked the beginning of discussions around paid maternity leave, culminating in the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, though it offered only unpaid leave and did not cover all workers.
The 1990s brought the “mommy wars,” a debate between working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Studies, however, indicated that children of working mothers were primarily concerned with their parents’ well-being, not the amount of time spent together.
The digital age ushered in online communities and “mommy blogs,” providing mothers with platforms to connect and discuss the challenges of motherhood openly. These online forums helped destigmatize topics like postpartum depression and breastfeeding difficulties, bringing these important conversations into the mainstream.
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- 15 vintage photos show how motherhood has changed in the US (businessinsider.com)