Mother

Mother

A mother is a female parent of a child. Mothers are women who inhabit or perform the role of bearing some relation to their children, who may or may not be their biological offspring. Thus, dependent on the context, women can be considered mothers by virtue of having given birth, by raising their child(ren), supplying their ovum for fertilisation, or some combination thereof.

Biological mother

A biological mother is the female genetic contributor to the creation of the infant, through sexual intercourse or egg donation. A biological mother may have legal obligations to a child not raised by her, such as an obligation of monetary support. A putative mother is a female whose biological relationship to a child is alleged but has not been established. A stepmother is a female who is the wife of a child's father and they may form a family unit, but who generally does not have the legal rights and responsibilities of a parent in relation to the child.

Non-biological mother

A non-biological mother refers to the concept of a woman, not the biological mother, who assumes the role of mother to a child. This can occur for various reasons, including surrogacy, adoption, foster care, or in step-families.

Motherhood in different cultures

Motherhood in different cultures varies widely due to differences in cultural beliefs, practices, and societal norms. In many cultures, women are expected to focus on motherhood and family, often to the exclusion of other roles. In other cultures, women balance motherhood with other roles in society.

See also

• Father
• Parent
• Childbirth
• Adoption
• Surrogacy
• Stepfamily

References

Mother Resources
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