Authors

Discussion

Why are narratives of “bad motherhood” so often told in the first person? Does this perspective allow narrators to reveal more, offering readers a raw and nuanced account of their experiences? Or is it an act of reclaiming power, a way for these narrators to control the story of their own lives? In my talk, I will explore these questions through two key novels: Ekaterina Bakunina’s Lyubov’ k shesterym (1935) and Alba de Céspedes’s The Forbidden Notebook (1952). Written 17 years apart in completely different settings, these novels share a surprising number of parallels, prompting us to ask whether certain kinds of narratives are particularly suited for revealing the intimate, sometimes vilifying aspects of marriage and motherhood. The confessional style of these narratives breaks from the ideal of the perfect maternal figure, presenting mothers as individuals wrestling with personal desires, guilt, and the pressures of domestic life. 

Hélène Cixous examines écriture féminine as a powerful form of resistance against the patriarchal appropriation of language. In this talk, I will explore how this concept applies to mothers striving to reclaim their identities after years of being reduced to two-dimensional maternal figures. By stepping into the role of subject, these narrators allow readers to see the nuanced, sometimes unflattering, aspects of their lives—elements often glossed over in idealized portrayals of women. Ultimately, these first-person narratives not only challenge societal norms surrounding motherhood but also empower women to reclaim control over their lives in a world that often seeks to silence them—illustrated by the ridicule faced by each protagonist for daring to document their thoughts or even possess a notebook.