Mothering a Disabled Child in Lithuania

Mothering, being a very important and challenging experience as it is, gets a completely new meaning with the birth of a disabled child. In contemporary Lithuanian society it is perceived as a burden on and a personal tragedy of the mother. The aim of this book is to present an alternative view to the issue. After reviewing the societal perception of disability and motherhood, the book offers a narrative analysis of personal accounts of twelve Lithuanian mothers who have children with disabilities. The analysis shows that while the institutions of disability and motherhood devalue their children and their mothering, mothers of disabled children redefine and normalize the meaning of their experiences. The book gives some insight into personal lives of mothers with disabled children and should be of interest to students in disabilities, womens studies and other social sciences as well as to those who have similar experiences themselves.

Autorentext

Raimonda Elvikyte, BA in Psychology (Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania), MA in Gender Studies (Central European University, Budapest, Hungary).