Uncovering maternal alienation : a further dimension of violence against women

Abstract

This thesis uses a feminist framework to explore one aspect of violence against women - the alienation that has occurred between women and their children. The thesis concludes that maternal alienation is built on two foundations, the privileging of the male voice, and the extensive mother blaming present at macro and micro levels in cultural discourses and in families. It suggests that maternal alienation is one way in which children are initiated into and coached in dismissive and blaming attitudes and behaviours to women.