Care as an expectation of unconditional love in motherhood

Abstract

This article critically examines motherhood, questioning the idealized construction of the maternal figure as a source of unconditional love and sacrifice. Traditionally, the maternal figure has been conceived as an altruistic and constant entity, generating expectations that render invisible the complexity of her feelings and the possibility of experiencing diverse emotions, such as ambivalence and exhaustion. The research deconstructs this image of the “perfect mother”, proposing that motherhood is a cultural construct influenced by historical, economic and social factors, and in permanent transformation. From Antiquity to the contemporary context, it analyses how the maternal role has been shaped by the demands of each era and how certain societies have recognized care as a shared responsibility. Through a theoretical approach based on gender studies and critical theories of care, the article proposes understanding motherhood as a multiple and nuanced experience. The conclusions highlight the need to make visible the diversity of maternal experiences, understanding the role of mother not as a universal mandate but as an individual and contextualized undertaking. In the field of nursing, especially in the support provided by midwives, the opportunity is identified to promote a vision of motherhood that respects women’s emotional needs and contributes to a more equitable and inclusive practice of care.