Motherhood: it’s the ultimate political question.
It is the foundation of every society in human history. Mothering sits at the heart of the most contested cultural questions of our time such as gender and identity, birth rates and ageing populations.
Despite this, Western societies render mothers near invisible. All too often motherhood is overlooked, oversimplified and under–researched.
Becoming a mother triggers a profound inner shift. It confronts questions of identity, mortality, freedom, and meaning in ways few other experiences do. That transformation goes beyond the private sphere. The effects ripple outward into families, communities, workplaces, and politics in ways we are only beginning to understand.
We believe that a society that understands motherhood better could be a more humane, generous, and equitable one.
Research
Our flagship report in partnership with Bible Society, Motherhood, Inside Out, is available now.
Analysis of the main quantitative findings from our UK motherhood research, Motherhood, Inside Out: The Story in Numbers
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Animation
What makes a mother? A short animation by Emily Downe exploring matrescence, the often unseen and deeply personal metamorphosis of becoming a mother. This film reimagines ancient wisdom for contemporary motherhood, offering language,
beauty, and recognition to an experience many feel, but few can name. A new mother is in a process of radical change – morphing, transforming,
transcending. But does anybody see her?
Events
In April, more than 150 women attended our event at St Giles Church, Camberwell to explore a question that’s both deeply personal and publicly important: what makes a mother?
The evening offered space for mothers to reflect on their experiences of pregnancy, birth, grief and more through music, liturgy and panel discussion.
Catch the recording of the panel conversation with Theo Clarke MP, Lucy Jones, Chine McDonald, Rev Alice Watson, and Dr Madeleine Pennington.
Podcast
Our 4–part docuseries Motherhood vs the Machine hosted by Chine McDonald and Dr Madeleine Pennington unpacks motherhood and its relationship with technology – past, present and future.
Listen to all episodes here.
Blogs
Introducing ‘Motherhood vs the Machine’
Media
Would you ‘grow a baby’ in a bag?
In defence of artificial wombs
I love being a mother but there is a dark side
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