Social devices for impelling women to bear and rear children

by Leta Stetter Hollingworth

"Social Devices for Impelling Women to Bear and Rear Children" by Leta S. Hollingworth is a scholarly examination of societal mechanisms designed to encourage women to participate in childbirth and child-rearing. This work reflects the early 20th-century perspective on gender roles and the expectations placed upon women in the context of family and societal survival. The book delves into various forms of social control, including public opinion, law, education, and religion, which converge to subtly and overtly compel women to fulfill their roles as mothers. In this thought-provoking text, Hollingworth analyzes how societal pressures and established norms undermine the notion of maternal instinct as an inherent, overwhelming desire that drives women towards motherhood. She argues that childbearing is fraught with risks and sacrifices, often at odds with women's aspirations for personal autonomy. By highlighting examples of social devices—such as legal restrictions, public sentiment, and cultural attitudes—Hollingworth illustrates a systemic effort to bind women's identities to motherhood. The book ultimately calls for a re-examination of these social constructs and advocates for a reassessment of women's roles in society that goes beyond mere reproductive functions.