Book launch: “Good Mothers”, Nations and Nationalisms: Cases from Lithuania, Russia and Sweden

The authors Yulia Gradskova, Ieva Bisigirskaite, Soheyla Yazdanpanah are presenting their new book. The book will be discussed by Diana Mulinari.

This book explores constructions of the “good mother” within diverse nations and nationalisms, focusing on three contexts grappling with distinct forms of “demographic anxiety.” Inspired by Sara Farris’ inquiry into femonationalism and utilizing “maternalism” and “politics of care” as critical
theoretical instruments, the book analyses the evolving political and social expectations imposed upon mothers in Lithuania, migrant mothers, including postsocialist migrant mothers from Central Asia and Caucasus in Sweden, and women in the militarizing authoritarian Russian state’s construction of maternity within its “traditional values” agenda. It also probes both how “good motherhood” is enacted and contested by individual mothers, as well as how it is mobilized in resisting conservative, ethnonationalist tendencies and militarism (in the case of Russia). The book’s chapters illuminate the roles of political and social actors engaged with renegotiating materialist politics—such as grassroots birth activist movements and maternalist social policy campaigns—as well as those defying militarism.

Refreshments will be served after the book launch.

The book launch is being organised in collaboration with The Institute of Contemporary History.

About the authors

Yulia Gradskova is an Associate Professor in History, Södertörn University, Sweden. Her research interests include postsocialist gender history, transnational history and
women’s internationalism during the Cold War as well as decolonial perspective on Soviet politics of emancipation of “woman of the East”.

Ieva Bisigirskaite is a Research Fellow and a Lecturer at Vilnius University. Her research focuses on the intersection of feminist sociolinguistics, critical motherhood studies,
nationalism, and maternal activism, as well as queer onomastics within post-socialist contexts.

Soheyla Yazdanpanah is a Senior Lecturer in Gender Studies at Södertörn University and holds a PhD in Economic History from Stockholm University. Her research focuses on inequalities in the context of livelihood, working life, and migration.

About the discussant

Diana Mulinari is a Professor in Gender Studies at Lund University. Her research focuses on issues of gender, inequality and visions of gender justice (and resistance to these visions).