Doing It All: The Social Power of Single Motherhood

Doing It All is a call for single mothers to take pride in their identity, and for society to recognise their value and respect the decisions single mothers make over how to raise our children.

A feminist exploration of single motherhood and a passionate call to reclaim the power of mothering.

''A brilliant book, fearlessly told.'' Elinor Cleghorn, author of UNWELL WOMEN

''''Lucid and liberating.'' Eliane Glaser, author of MOTHERHOOD: A MANIFESTO

Nearly a quarter of UK families with dependent children are single-parent families, and around 90% of single parents are women. Yet the single mother is still cast as victim or welfare queen, sexually irresponsible or too independent by half.

Tracing a history through Victorian brothels, welfare rights activism and Black feminist traditions of othermothering, Ruby Russell tells a different story: of motherhood defined not by marriage or men, but as a nexus of solidarity beyond the patriarchal status quo.

A personal quest for empowerment, Doing It All is also a fierce critique of the structures that leave single mums marginalised and exhausted - and a call to reclaim mothering as the life force of sustainable, connected and radically responsible communities.  

''Deftly marrying history with her own story, Russell gives us a vision of single mothers as avatars of a better world. It is a world we can all embrace, and all aspire to.'' Kirsten Swinth, author of FEMINISM''S FORGOTTEN FIGHT

''Mightily encourages dreams of a society where mothering is the most important activity of all.'' Irish Sunday Independent

• | Author: Ruby Russell
• | Publisher: John Murray Press
• | Publication Date: Feb 29, 2024
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9780349702186
• | ISBN-10: 0349702187