a female parent
Old English modor, from Proto-Germanic *mōdēr
One of humanity's most fundamental kinship terms
Motherhood became ideologically central to female identity from 18th-19th centuries onward, limiting women's roles and erasing childless women's legitimacy. The term carries expectations of self-sacrifice gendered as feminine virtue.
Use 'mother' specifically for the relationship; avoid 'mother of all' or 'mothering' as gendered metaphors for care work that men also perform.
["parent","caregiver","maternal figure"]
Credit mothers' intellectual and organizational contributions beyond nurturing—midwives, educators, activists who were systematically written from history as professional contributors.
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