and sisterhood as the reconstruction of Portias identity. Sisterhood evokes a self- autonomy through inter-subjective dialogue between women. The inter-subjective
dialogue in sisterhood subverts the repetition of imaginary unity and dependency between women and helps the daughter to construct her self-identity without
adhering to certain feminine rules or model.
2.2.1 Patriarchal Motherhood
According to Kate Millet, patriarchy refers to the male domination of women, whether it is of sex or age.
32
In other sides, motherhood is the patriarchal institution of motherhood that is male-defined and controlled.
33
From these two definitions, patriarchal motherhood is seen as an oppressive institution from male
toward females identity, especially as the mother. Under the notion of patriarchal motherhood, the mothering process is centered on a mother. There is an
expectation from society toward the mothers role in childrearing practice, in which the mother is responsible for the process of her childrens self-
transformation or self-development.
34
For the social demand of womens primary nurturer, it can construct the symbiotic relationship between the mother and
daughter and make them fall into imaginary unity. The following part discusses the construction of mother-daughters symbiotic relationship and its effect toward
the daughters self-development.
32
Mary Murray. The Law of the Father? Patriarchy in the transition from feudalism to capitalism. NY: Routledge, 1995, p. 7
33
O‟ Reilly, p. 3
34
O‟ Reilly, p. 6
2.2.1.1 Mother- daughter’s Symbiotic Relationship
In this part of the theory‟s analysis, it represents the oppressive act from patriarchy toward the women‟s identity as a mother. Mother- daughter‟s
symbiotic relationship is constructed by the bond or intimate relation between the mother and her daughter during childrearing practice. Patriarchal motherhood has
placed women in private sphere and made them as the primary caregiver for her children. Patriarchal motherhood becomes the oppressive system that constrains
and dominates women, especially in their mothering. In patriarchal mothering, society neglects the real isolation experienced by mothers.
35
Mother has been dictated to provide nurturance under cultural perspective, under all of the cultural
regulations that demand a mother to love her children in a special way and to spend her times for nurturing them.
It is true that a child needs love and care, but patriarchal culture demands a mother to be the main subject who will provide love and care alone, without other
people‟s help. A man is not supposed to be involved in childrearing practice since man functions as the breadwinner in a family. For this regulation of woman‟s task
in a family, a mother remains subordinate to her husband. Mother is demanded to be the one who has to take care of family life, especially for the children.
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For this main task, mother abdicates her life not only for the children but also for her
husband. She must also be the executor for her husbands rule in a family. As the consequence for this patriarchal motherhood, the daughter is raised in a sexist
35
O‟ Reilly, p. 6
36
Danijela Majstorović and Inger Lassen. Living with Patriarchy: Discursive constructions of gendered subjects across cultures. ed.. Amsterdam Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing
Company, 2011, p. 85
environment where men still hold the primary authority and responsibility for making a decision, and women become a silent subject. It is to emphasize that the
limitation toward mothers role in family reveals the power of patriarchy that subjugates womens identity in the private sphere of a family only.
When the mother is isolated from social life, she loses her chance to share childrearing practice with other relatives and to socialize herself in a social world.
In this case, patriarchy subjugates mothers identity as the passive figure. According to O Reilly, the patriarchal ideology of motherhood requires the
repression or denial of the mother‟s own selfhood.
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She notes how patriarchy assigns mothers all
the responsibility for mothering but denies the mother‟s authority to determine her own mothering. The limitation of the mother‟s freedom
influences mother‟s psychological development, and it will affect her feeling as a mother and a woman.
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This argument affirms that patriarchal motherhood affects the type of mothering provided by the mother. Close relation with the daughter
makes the mother build strong emotional tie The strong emotional tie will construct mothers fear of leaving out
symbiotic relationship with her daughter. It is to argue that the mother keeps her daughter by her sides and protects her daughter from social oppression. Moreover,
knowing the difficulties of being female in the patriarchal world makes mother
37
O‟ Reilly, p. 10
38
Jane Flax . “The Conflict between Nurturance and Autonomy in Mother-Daughter Relationships
and within Feminism ”. Feminist Studies 4.2 Toward a Feminist Theory of Motherhood
Jun.,1978: p. 4. JSTOR. Web. 15 Apr. 2016
