Doing It All: The Social Power of Single Motherhood

by Ruby Russell

A feminist exploration of single motherhood and a passionate call to reclaim the power of mothering 

In the United States, one child in five is raised by a single mother. Yet the single mom is still cast as victim or welfare queen, sexually irresponsible or too independent for her own (or her children’s) good.    

In Doing It All,journalist and single mother Ruby Russell tells a different story, of single mothering not defined by loss but whole and powerful in its own right. She finds narratives of liberation in Victorian brothels and postwar British slums, in Black feminist theory and the grassroots activism of women fighting for welfare rights.

Doing It All is a personal quest for empowerment, a fierce critique of the systems that leave single moms marginalized and exhausted, and a call to reclaim mothering as the life force of sustainable, connected, and radically responsible communities.   

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Feminism

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journalist Ruby Russell brings the highs and lows of single motherhood to life in her latest book. Rejecting the negative stereotypes and misconceptions of modern single motherhood, Russell instead roots this book in activist, feminist theories and deep historical roots beyond the last half-century. A description of single motherhood and a critique of the systems which do not support women, this book reimagines single motherhood in the public consciousness as a source of strength and pride and its stigmas as rooted in a state-wide failure and a cultural prejudice. Supported by recent and relevant facts and figures, Russell bases this book in her own experiences and the experiences of other single mothers in her social group, all of whom have different lived experiences and challenges as single mothers. With straightforward prose and a clear narrative, Russell’s book is engaging, informative, and relevant to her readers. By combining multiple narrative structures (personal and scholarly), Russell can reach multiple audiences and convey critical events and information to her readers. An excellent work of narrative nonfiction with a great writing style and an important topic, this book is a powerful and socially relevant read about modern single motherhood for modern women and for scholars in sociology and gender studies.

Thanks to NetGalley, Basic Books, and Seal Press for the advance copy.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really meaningful book to me in so many ways and it found me at just the right time. detangled romantic love and motherhood for me and helped me reflect on too many things to type out on GR. my journal will fill with insights from this book; would give it to everyone I know if I could