A Woman's Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering

by Elinor Cleghorn

From the author of Unwell Women comes a powerful and groundbreaking new narrative history of motherhood and mothering.

Mothers make history. But what it has meant for mothers to do the physical and emotional work of mothering has, for centuries, been neglected in the stories of the past. Patriarchal control of motherhood has relegated the acts of growing, birthing, nurturing, and loving to the sidelines, and deemed it unimportant, women's work. Now, through the voices of women themselves, Elinor Cleghorn reclaims and retells the history of motherhood, showcasing the mothers, othermothers, midwives, activists, community leaders, and more who have shaped the course of history.

Beginning in the ancient world, we encounter a figurine made for a childbirth ritual over three thousand years ago. We meet extraordinary writers and poets, like Anne Bradstreet and Elizabeth Jocelin, who were expressing their innermost feelings about motherhood. During the seventeenth century, in the streets of London, we encounter unmarried mothers struggling against stigma and shame, and the women who strove to help them. Later, pioneers like Mary Wollstonecraft laid the intellectual foundation for the liberation of motherhood from male control, and the abhorrent treatment of enslaved mothers was brought to public attention by courageous activists like Sojourner Truth. These and many other brave characters lobbied for mothers of all classes and circumstances to be valued, respected, and supported--not as reproductive vessels, but as people.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Feminism, Parenting, Audiobook, Womens, Gender

416 pages, Hardcover

First published March 12, 2026

Reviews

[Rosh (will be MiA for a fortnight!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: Not a book about ‘mothering’ but about ‘motherhood’. Informative, but slightly dense at times. Recommended to those more interested into seeing how perceptions about pregnancy, midwifery and the like have evolved through the ages.

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The tagline says this book is about ‘Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering’. Dictionaries define ‘mothering’ as the activity of caring for and protecting children or other people. So I picked this book up assuming it to be a depiction of the evolving perceptions of childcare over the centuries. However, the book focuses more on motherhood i.e. the literal act of becoming a mother.

As such, it includes pregnancy, labour, and everything else connected to reproduction post-conception. It does fair justice to these topics, beginning from mothers in mythology, and moving steadily down the centuries covering religious beliefs, social expectations from women about motherhood, patriarchal dominance, midwifery, postpartum psychosis, and so on. It also includes biographies of some pioneering women. A major part of the content is historical.

As the book went in a different direction, I thought that once it was done with the topics related to conception, pregnancy, and postpartum experiences, it would move to ‘mothering’. But no, mothering just doesn’t come up. I feel… cheated, I guess?

Those who want to read a book on the changing perception of women from being reproductive vessels to being individuals with rights (Assuming that we have more rights these days! 😑) will find this an informative book, though a bit dry and dense at times. But ‘mothering’ is what was promised by the tagline and what I picked the book up for, and the book didn’t give me that. 🤷🏻‍♀️

3.5 stars.



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I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.

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[candide_in_ohio · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very excited about this book! A few chapters in however I wondered why I was feeling frustrated and I realized that I kept expecting a history of motherhood and instead what I was getting was a history of.., procreation. Once I’d noticed that the research was about everything that had to do with everything related to pregnancy, birthing, early postpartum, midwifery… I kept waiting for the parts about MOTHERING to come up and… they never came. I even wondered if the author had initially written a history of biological reproduction or giving birth and that her publisher had forced her to rebrand and she didn’t have the wherewithal to protest? It made me furious. It made me even MORE furious when at the veeeeery end of the book the author talks about the damages of the Natalist ideology without once once of consciousness about the fact that the book she’s just written participates in that discourse! It made me angry. And then it made me immensely sad.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a mother.

As much as I wanted to be one, I never got the chance [and now that ship has sailed], and typically, being reminded of this fact will make me sad and sink to the "depths of despair" [oh the life of a depressive]. I'm sure you're wondering why them, would I read this book? Well, because of the title [which unfortunately is V E R Y misleading]; I was a nanny for 8 full years and then for 5 years on & off , and that can be [and it very much was for me] the very epitome of mothering, and I was so looking forward to reading stories from/about women like me, who spent years mothering other people's children, as well as reading stories from couples who chose adoption for whatever reason [I have several friends who chose adoption and I find their stories amazing] and stories from/about stepparents [I have had three myself and two of them were such great second parent's to me and I am forever grateful]. So many examples of mothering to be explored.

Yeah, no.

What I [and any of the other readers of this book and there are certainly more detailed reviews than mine out there] got was a book about birth, pregnancy, midwifery [this part was actually fascinating to me, and I always perked up when this topic came up in the book] and EVERYTHING to do with with actual biologically being a mother and really nothing to do with with mothering [or even the idea of it,and those who, outside of convention, do it]. Add in that this a V E R Y dense book with a ton of information [the narration is superb thankfully and I will be looking for other books that Sarah Slimani narrates] to wade through [none which I was expecting, nor actually hoping for to be honest], and I was truly disappointed by the end.

I was invited to read/review this by the publisher [Dutton, Plume, Tiny Reparations Books/Dutton], and I thank them, Elinor Cleghorn, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Imogen Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and fascinating! The author writes about motherhood through different historical time periods. A bit dense at times, but I enjoyed it for the most part.

[Jamie Holloway · Rating 3 out of 5]

i appreciate this book. The history and information about women throughout history educated me. I had to read in small bursts because the information is dense and I needed time to process what I was reading. This is not a fast read. Still worth reading.

[Wendy Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Woman's Work traces the history of motherhood across cultures, from ancient Greece to the postwar housewife, exposing how the patriarchy has shaped women’s lives. Though thoroughly researched and often fascinating, especially its exploration of mythology, medical progress, and changing attitudes, the dense academic tone made it a challenging read. I found the later chapters increasingly political and difficult to engage with. An impressive yet heavy and sometimes preachy study. I prefer my reading to be more escapism.
I received this as an ARC through Jubilee Cresent Book Club

[Alexa Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating. Depressing. 3

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this!
I always gravitate towards books dealing with motherhood, pregnancy, midwifery, etc. and this book was no exception. I enjoyed the historical viewpoint and learning about mothering and motherhood throughout time. It was a little academic feeling at points, but I feel the author also did a great job discussing some of the hardships mothers have faced from all walks of life.

[Sarah Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As if I needed more reasons to be annoyed at the patriarchy… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Really interesting read. Such a fascinating historical look at feminism, motherhood, and the way women’s bodies have been understood over time or misunderstood in many cases.

As a midwifery lecturer I found this especially engaging. The parts about Hippocrates and early medical views were both fascinating and frustrating, and you can really see how many patriarchal ideas about women’s bodies go back a long way. It was also really interesting reading about how birth and women’s health moved from being part of women’s knowledge and community into something taken over by medicine and a movement to pathogenesis.

I really liked the discussion about midwifery, where it sits between art and science and the true value of being with woman. You can see those origins so clearly in the history, and it made me think a lot about how the role has changed but also how some of those tensions are still there now and arguably becoming worse in recent history.

Very well researched. Not always an easy listen, but really thought-provoking and definitely one I’m glad I read.

[Magdalena Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant, very well researched, if at times slightly too dense and academic-leaning. I was fascinated by the very early chapters and then by how midwifery came to be (or basically always existed in some way). I loved reading about the first women who actually wrote about motherhood all those years ago! The conclusion was a great place to finish, wrap up and I appreciated the author's personal story woven into it too.

[C.Z. Munu · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intellectually rich, deeply researched examination of motherhood as a political, historical, and cultural force rather than a purely private experience.

Cleghorn traces a powerful chronology of womanhood and mothering, weaving together medical history, feminist theory, and lived experience. Much of the history she excavates is jaw-dropping—yet depressingly unsurprising; particularly in how women’s pain, labor, and autonomy have been systematically minimized or erased. What I appreciated most was the way Cleghorn situates motherhood within a wider feminist archive, drawing on an impressive range of texts that invite further reading rather than presenting this book as a closed argument.

That said, this is not an especially accessible read. At times, the book veers into tangents that are difficult to follow, and its academic tone—while intellectually rewarding—may feel dense or alienating to readers expecting a more narrative-driven or popular nonfiction approach. This is a book that reads closer to an academic paper than a conventional nonfiction work, which I experienced as both a strength and a limitation.

Ultimately, this book will not be for everyone but for readers interested in feminist history, maternal theory, and the politics of care, it is a vital and thought-provoking contribution. I finished it not only more informed, but with an expanded reading list and a deeper intellectual appreciation for the radical histories of mothering.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I want to read this book a second time because there is much to learn & ponder especially as each period of history unfolds. I wish I could go back in time but still study this current book in college over an entire semester.

I think the author wrote a book where each single chapter could be a discussion in itself. If you have the right chemistry with a book club of like-minded members, it would be enlightening to slowly read chapter by chapter and discuss with other women.

I found the book freeing in that I always felt like I didn't have that "natural mothering skill set". I went kicking and screaming to even agree to become pregnant although both my Daughters are the very best thing in my life.

Note - Neither Daughter has Children nor cares to have them. I found myself thinking of my own Mother too while reading and also forgiving her because like myself - She was "winging it" as I grew up an only Child to aging and only Child Parents.

Maybe I'm odd, but I have gone down many a rabbit hole reading a book's bibliography after finishing it. This book's bibliography doesn't disappoint and offers up deeper dives into mothering, the definition of that within oneself and others and being vulnerable simply by birth.

After writing this review, I am convinced I'll be reading it once more because "Once Is Not Enough" for A Woman's Work.

I thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Elaine Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I requested this book on NetGalley when I saw the subtitle. I knew that the author would most likely be coming from a very different viewpoint than myself, but I was interested to read about the mothering through the centuries. As a historian, the author walks through human history, but centers women in the narrative she tells. Far from ignoring the pivotal moments of the past, the author points to the all-important role women played as they carried, gave birth to, and reared each generation of humanity. We get to hear how different cultures approached pregnancy, labor, childbirth, & mothering those children. From the early Minoan childbirth rituals to the modern era, we see the variety of philosophies that have influenced the occupation of mothering. One part that I found particularly interesting was the contrasts even within a movement. History is full of nuances, and Cleghorn does her best to allow for those. It is hard to completely strip away our biases, and this book is no different. However, the author does draw from a wide range of history's mothers--from Mary to Anne Bradstreet to Mary Wollstonecraft to Sojourner Truth. I definitely came away with a broader understanding of what mothering has meant to the women who have gone before me. And it's reminded me that not every mother's journey will look the same, but we have so many threads that connect us.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

'A Woman's Work: A History of Motherhood' by Elinor Cleghorn is an enlightening book that warmly re-explores the rich history of motherhood, from ancient times to today. It beautifully highlights how motherhood has been a powerful catalyst for social and political change, rather than just a private affair. The book shines a light on the often-overlooked contributions of mothers, midwives, and activists, celebrating their fights for autonomy and rights. Including inspiring figures like Sojourner Truth and Mary Wollstonecraft, it traces the evolving ideals of motherhood—from the post-war homemaker image to today's reproductive justice movements.

Cleghorn passionately argues that the hard physical and emotional work of motherhood has often been undervalued in history. She aims to give well-deserved recognition to those who have taken on these vital roles. Her storytelling takes us from ancient rituals through the stigmatization of single mothers in 17th-century London, right up to current conversations around motherhood.

Through her work, Cleghorn beautifully shows how women have resisted control and challenged traditional ideas about motherhood to bring about social and political progress. She weaves together medical history, feminist viewpoints, and cultural insights, inspired by her own journey as a mother.

[Jackie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched and written and information resource book for anyone studying medical sciences, women’s history, equal rights, racism in fact the gamut of striving for recognition of those disadvantaged in the western society familiar to us.

It traces the history of women as mothers and their birthing experiences over many centuries revealing (no surprise) that they were always at the mercy of the patriarchal systems of governing lives and civilisations. I found the tracing of the prejudices right back to the Greek and Roman myths fascinating as all following ideas of control over women and their bodies emanate from them. The campaigners of recent centuries have paved the way for the modern system of care for mothers but it is still a struggle and a fight with recent events (in the USA) reversing the gains.

An excellent book but I found the many references (the bibliography is extensive) somewhat bewildering and had no chance of remembering and I did start skim reading as I am a lay reader. I do think Gleghorn does somewhat labour the point but we need people of her ilk to continue the fight even if not agreeing with absolutely everything she argues for. At times it made me angry at the treatment of women at the hands of men but it also enlightened me.

[Pauline Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review A Woman’s Work by Elinor Cleghorn

A wide ranging history of motherhood. The restrictions women lived under and the controlling nature of patriarchy across the ages. The time covered is ambitious. The book starts in Ancient Greece and finishes in the modern age. It covers Europe, mainly Britain and America.
The book is not always easy reading, although I found it got more interesting when we left the Classical world. There were some interesting stories and a lot of information given. For me, the problem was the lack of a uniting theme, aside from ’ the patriarchy is always unsympathetic to women and controlling’ . I think that focusing on how women worked to undermine that control would have made a more enjoyable book. The author does look at radical thinkers like Mary Walthamstow and others like her, and I enjoyed those sections. The book certainly looks shows lots of academic research but at times is too polemic to really engage the reader.
Maybe a book for those interested in broadening their knowledge in this area or who already have some background knowledge.
Thank you to Orion books for giving Methley book club the opportunity to read this book.

[Samantha Ludlow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not a fan of this book, but I found it interesting enough to finish. While the title makes it seem like the book will be about the different ways women have mothered over time, it was very much focused on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum with much less said of how motherhood looked after that. Being postpartum myself, I found all the history of birth practices and midwifery to be the most interesting part of the book, and they are why I read to the end.

One of the author’s main points was that women have been oppressed from the beginning of recorded history and that motherhood was used to keep them from being treated as equal to men. I do see the historical facts that support her argument, yet found her writing to be very whiny and from a victim mindset (despite her account of having been able to mother and give birth on her own terms), leaving me with the impression that the whole work was biased by her emotions. Personally, as a stay-at-home mom of six, who has felt incredibly fulfilled by my role, I was saddened to see traditional motherhood portrayed as something women settle for and not much more.

[Cheyenne Betancourt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had been looking forward to this book for weeks, so it was disappointing to find it didn’t match what was advertised. The title and synopsis suggest a focus on the act of mothering, but the book is really more about the history of pregnancy, midwifery, and childbirth.

It's clearly well researched and thoughtfully written. Much of the content centers on the period before the nineteenth century, and the opening sections are fairly dense, especially with their emphasis on theological perspectives of womanhood. I’m giving it three stars for the quality of the writing, but I wouldn’t recommend it to readers hoping to explore the lived experience of mothering across history. It didn’t quite deliver on the promise of “reclaiming the radical history of motherhood,” and I found myself missing that deeper connection to mothers of the past.

[Adam Donagh · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Received through Jubilee Crescent Book Club Coventry.

From my perspective as a male reader in my mid-30s, A Woman’s Work by Elinor Cleghorn felt eye-opening and thought-provoking. It shows, how often women’s health has been dismissed or misunderstood, not just in the past but still now.

What really stayed with me was how surprising and slightly frustrating a lot of this history felt. Cleghorn uses stories that make the issue feel human and real. It made me reflect how easy it is to miss these patterns.

It can be detailed and occasionally heavy, but overall it’s engaging, and important. It’s the kind of book that lingers with you once you’ve read it.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Woman's Work is a deeply validating read that managed to leave me both thoroughly impressed and incredibly angry. Elinor Cleghorn exposes how society has historically weaponized "motherly love" to trap women into centuries of exhausting, unpaid labor. As a mother myself, reading this was a stark, tiring reminder of how caregiving was systematically pushed into the private sphere to keep the global economy running on our backs. It is an essential, radical history that I enjoyed, even if it made me want to burn the whole patriarchal system down. (can we get a round of applause for the beautiful cover?)

Thank you Dutton and NetGalley #AWomansWork #NetGalley.

[Grecia T · Rating 4 out of 5]

“[ T] here is no limit to women’s power,”

If you are interested in an overview of women's history through the lens of motherhood throughout centuries, I recommend this book. By no means is it comprehensive but it does offer insight and historical context to some of the challenges and prejudices that women face to this day. I think it also does a great job of including information on intersectionality and how some women's suffragette movement left Black and Brown women out.

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for the eGalley/ARC of this book.

[Julianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Intro: this author did not study the Spartans 😅 Can't wait to find out why she's so hateful, but sincerely, I hope the tone changes...

Spoiler alert: it doesn't. What victims she thinks mothers are- which is the opposite of the truth! Mothers are incredible, warriors, givers of life. Now more than ever we have more resources, access to other mothers, and the ability to learn any topic as deeply as we care to. Where is the victimhood in that? I see only strength and I wish she touched on that topic even half as much as she waxed on about the woes of motherhood.

[Jacqui Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consider myself to be a liberated person, I'm a female boomer, raised two children as a working (outside the home) single parent. Despite this I was often astounded by the evidence of the subjugation of women throughout know history. The "state" religious factions and society convinced & continue to convince women that their most fulfilling role in life is to bear children.
At times I found the narrative repetitious but never the less I would urge both men & women to read this book.
Jacqui
Methley Book Club

[Rachel Large · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read this as an ARC through Jubilee Crescent Book Club. It is not something that I would usually pick up and read, however I found this book to be fascinating. It was a truly insightful journey through the different history and perspectives of motherhood. Having just become a mother myself, it allowed me to view motherhood from several different angles. A fantastic and interesting read.

[Christine Watters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was our monthly read from Methley book club. It wasn't a book I would have chosen for pleasure but I enjoyed the read. It was well written and well researched. I found myself reflecting on experiences of my mother as I was growing up
Some of it was shocking and sad, which made you grateful to have equality ( mostly).
I felt it was a book to pop in and out of to sustain my interest.
Glad I read it .

[Amy Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF for now at Part Two on page 83. I thought I’d find this empowering, and I’m sure it will get there. But for now it’s just bumming me out. An important history to be sure and very interesting so far. I’ll return to this at some point.

[Denise Jarrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chosen by our bookclub as a read for this month. It's not a book I would have picked up but it was an interesting read. The book is well researched and quite academic and there is plenty to learn from it.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well researched medical and sociological history of birth and motherhood from earliest known history (Mesopotamia) to the modern era in the western world.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Kathalene A · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5