Mulheres, maternidade e trabalhos de cuidado

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the intrinsic relationship between women, motherhood, and care work. It addresses the origin of the sexual division of labor and the history of women's subordination; in addition, it offers an analysis of how this condition impacts the historical place of women in the family environment, with the aim of understanding the ways in which this dynamic often results in expectations regarding the obligation of maternal love and the dedication of women to care work. For methodological purposes, a bibliographical research was carried out, which included a survey and analysis of books and scientific articles that address the proposed theme. The data indicate that the determinations of care and maternal love considered “natural” are nothing more than tools of domination of the patriarchal-capitalist system over women, tools that imprison these subjects to an unattainable ideal of a supposedly perfect woman and mother.