Feminist Studies

 Feminist Studies 41, no. 3. © 2015 by Meredith Rapport Gringle meredith raPPort gringle Motherhood Discourse as Neoliberal Project: Poem Performances introduCtion The poems below explore how neoliberalism pervades narratives about motherhood in the contemporary United States. In “Forewords” I present excerpts from the source material that I draw on in my poems. They illustrate the choice-based language of motherhood that I routinely encounter as a mother. What’s at stake, as “Preface” warns, is that the discourse of choice obscures the political project of decentering and obscuring collectivism and structural change. The first poem “Declaration” cites and arranges excerpted source language in order to reproduce the tone and overarching message of both the individual pieces and the excerpts as a group. The piece is written in free verse, suggestive of a discourse that hinges on the centrality of individual mothers. “Ode” is a Shakespearean-style sonnet designed to enact the tension within motherhood “choices” that are at-once untenable and celebrated within US culture. The sestina “Snare” shifts to second-person narrative to portray the available tropes of US motherhood. “Snare” is meant to invoke claustrophobia—different as they may appear, the stanzas cannot cast off a neoliberal undergird. The envoi stanza simultaneously evokes and responds to “Declaration” and “Ode,” thus not only ending “Snare,” but also concluding the overall three-poem performance. Meredith Rapport Gringle 567 forewordS “What other mothers are doing is none of your business. Doing what works for you, for your children and your family to stay happy, good humored and connected is ultimately all that matters.”1 “Of course, everyone needs to figure out what works best for them and their sweet babies.”2 “I can barely keep my own head above water. Who am I to judge how you decide to feed your child?! I support you!”3 “American mothers are not ‘leaning in’. American mothers are not ‘opting out’. American mothers are barely hanging on.”4 “Most people don’t make life decisions based on statistics or the collective good.”5 PrefaCe “Solidarity is not an inevitable outcome.”6 1. Maggie Warrell, “Letter to Working Mothers: Stop Feeling So Guilty,” Forbes, June 25, 2013, http://www.forbes.com/sites/margiewarrell/2013/06/25 /dear-working-mother-stop-feeling-so-guilty. 2. Joanna Goddard, “Motherhood Mondays: Sleep Training (It’s Tough!),” A CUP OF JO [blog], October 1, 2012, http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/2012 /10/motherhood-mondays-sleep-training-its.html. 3. Lisa Belkin, “I Support You: The Conversation We Should Be Having About Breastfeeding and Formula,” Huff Post Parents, August 1, 2013, http://www. huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/01/i-support-you-breastfeeding-_n_3685881.html. 4. Sarah Kendzior, “Mothers are Not ‘Opting Out’—They are Out of Options,” Aljazeera, August 19, 2013, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013 /08/201381615448464851.html. 5. Judith Warner, “The Opt-Out Generation Wants Back In,” New York Times Magazine, August 7, 2013, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/11/magazine /the-opt-out-generation-wants-back-in.html?_r=0. 6. bell hooks, “Dig Deep: Beyond Lean In,” Feminist Wire, October 28, 2013, http://thefeministwire.com/2013/10/17973. 568 Meredith Rapport Gringle Declaration What works best for other mothers (them and their sweet babies) Is none of your business. We don’t make life decisions Based on the collective Good: Who am I to judge? Leaning in Opting out Barely hanging on I support you! You. Your children. Your family. All that matters. Ode What works, for me? (others are none of my business) What matters is my family, My sweet babies are precious. Of course I support you too To be—and stay—happy and connected This is the collective good, true? True! It is so special to be presented Meredith Rapport Gringle 569 with all of these important choices like leaning in or opting out. And though I may hear many voices I do know better than to doubt: I am an American mother I barely keep my head above water. Snare A happy, good humored and connected mother Makes sweet babies And a strong family. Welcome to the new business matters They demand your best work. Are you in or are...