A Woman's Role
In what ways can visual art be used to explore the emotional and physical burdens of motherhood, and how can this contribute to a broader conversation about maternal mental health?
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This project delves into the societal expectations placed on mothers and the impact these pressures have on their well-being. By engaging with community members, I gathered personal stories that highlight how household roles—often invisible —affect maternal mental health. A series of six paintings depict mothers' traditional responsibilities, from child-rearing to cooking and cleaning. While the division of physical labor has become more balanced in many households, the mental load remains disproportionately carried by mothers. Allison Daminger’s study, The Cognitive Dimension of Household Labor, states, “I find gender to be a major factor in the distribution of cognitive labor. Among the 32 cisgender, different-sex couples, women carried a heavier overall cognitive load, although certain household domains were more gendered than others.” (2019: 622). Similarly, the 2017 Modern Family Index found that 86% of working mothers manage most family and household responsibilities—coordinating schedules, making appointments, and ensuring everyone is where they need to be (Bright Horizons Modern Family Index 2017). |
The paintings were exhibited at the local library, a deliberate choice to ensure accessibility to a diverse audience. Positioned near the circulation desk and the tunnel leading to the children’s section, the artwork naturally intersected with families’ routines, allowing parents to engage with the work. A gallery setting may have limited viewership to art enthusiasts, but a library setting welcomes a broad cross-section of the community.
This project aims to make visible the unseen mental labor mothers perform daily. Another is to offer validation—to let other mothers know they are not alone in their struggles, exhaustion, or guilt over whether they’re "doing enough."
Rooted in the feminist art movement, this project amplifies mothers' voices while aligning with research on the power of shared storytelling in mental health. To incorporate community voices, I designed an anonymous survey about household roles and the psychological and physical demands tied to them. I was surprised by the large amount of responses I received—95 participants, with 85.3% identifying as female and 55.8% from households with working professionals and children. Their written responses became part of the artwork, embedded in blue text bubbles within the paintings, turning their words into a visual testament of lived experiences.
By transforming these stories into art, this project invites viewers to reflect, empathize, and, ultimately, engage in a much-needed dialogue about the mental load of motherhood.
This project aims to explore societal expectations placed on women once becoming mothers and seeks to explore the impact these expectations have on mothers. By engaging with community members, I was able to gather personal experiences and stories related to various household roles that impact mothers' mental health.
This project aims to make visible the unseen mental labor mothers perform daily. Another is to offer validation—to let other mothers know they are not alone in their struggles, exhaustion, or guilt over whether they’re "doing enough."
Rooted in the feminist art movement, this project amplifies mothers' voices while aligning with research on the power of shared storytelling in mental health. To incorporate community voices, I designed an anonymous survey about household roles and the psychological and physical demands tied to them. I was surprised by the large amount of responses I received—95 participants, with 85.3% identifying as female and 55.8% from households with working professionals and children. Their written responses became part of the artwork, embedded in blue text bubbles within the paintings, turning their words into a visual testament of lived experiences.
By transforming these stories into art, this project invites viewers to reflect, empathize, and, ultimately, engage in a much-needed dialogue about the mental load of motherhood.
This project aims to explore societal expectations placed on women once becoming mothers and seeks to explore the impact these expectations have on mothers. By engaging with community members, I was able to gather personal experiences and stories related to various household roles that impact mothers' mental health.