Exploring Identity Beyond Motherhood Through Harrison Butker's Speech

The Motherhood Kit

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Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker recently sparked controversy following his commencement speech at a private girls school a few weeks ago, where he encouraged the women to embrace their roles as “homemakers”. Today on The Motherhood Kit, Yamel is joined by Dr. Laura Tillman and together they dive deep on this current topic of identity beyond motherhood.

Together, Laura and Yamel discuss the impact of Butker’s words, societal norms, and the importance of breaking down these limiting views of women’s roles. They also share personal stories of times when we felt identified solely by our role as mothers, and how they navigated those experiences to reclaim their broader identities, as well as sharing valuable strategies that you can use to prioritise your mental wellbeing, especially in a society that tends to overlook our value beyond mothering.

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In this episode, Yamel and Laura discuss:

• Butker’s speech and how he diminished women to a singular role of being “home-makers”, when they are capable of so much more.

• The importance of bringing curiosity to these matters to understand the root of perspectives like Butker’s, and the social norms that play into these.

• The importance of moms maintaining and nurturing their identities beyond that of being a mother, not just for their own fulfilment but also to enable them to be the best versions of themselves for their children.

• Experiences from their own lives where they have felt societal pressures to conform to the sole identity of ‘mother’ and how they dealt with this.

• How societal expectations can be isolating, and how the narrative that women should find complete fulfilment solely in domestic roles can be detrimental.

• Laura’s advice for moms who might be feeling the pressure of these social expectations to communicate with their support system and surrounding themselves with those who champion their identities both inside and outside of mothering.

To connect with Dr. Laura Tillman click here

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