Negotiating Afghan Motherhood and Mothering in Nadia Hashimi’s The Pearl That Broke Its Shell

Abstract

The concepts of motherhood and mothering are rapidly developing in recent times. Since women are typically the ones who perform the tasks related to mothering, it is discussed in relation with women. Since concepts of femininity and motherhood are intertwined, mothering reinforces women's gender identity. Motherhood Studies, founded in 2006 by Andrea O'Reilly, explores and theorizes patriarchal motherhood and mothering. It focuses on the critical analysis of motherhood as a social and cultural construct. The position of women who become mothers is complicated by pregnancy, childbirth, and nurturing children. In addition, social, cultural, political, and economic factors have a deep impact on the mental and physical health of women. The theoretical framework of Maternal Theory was formulated by academic scholars such as Adrienne Rich, Patricia Hill Collins, Sara Ruddick, O’Reilly, and others. The maternal theory is primarily based on two concepts: motherhood versus mothering and patriarchal motherhood. Motherhood relates women’s experiences of motherhood that are controlled and defined by the oppressive patriarchy that makes women vulnerable to men; whereas mothering is female-centered and has the capacity of empowering women that acts as a resistance against the patriarchy that chooses to define motherhood. Thus, maternal theory explores, theorizes, and researches motherhood and mothering, irrespective of class, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, etc. This paper focuses on Afghan motherhood and mothering in Nadia Hashimi's The Pearl That Broke Its Shell through the theory of Maternal Theory. It highlights patriarchal motherhood practiced by Afghan mothers. In addition, it explores the concept of intensive mothering, motherwork, communal mothering, and empowered mothering, which helped the protagonist, Rahima, who was a bacha posh, to trace the ancestry of her great-great-grandmother, Shekiba, and to resist and free herself from the shackles of patriarchy and misogyny rampant in the Afghan community.