Theos is starting a new research project on motherhood that explores the ways in which motherhood plays out in our society.

Theos and Bible Society are conducting a new 18–month research project to uncover the spiritual, social and political impact of becoming a mother. We will explore the different ways in which views and beliefs about motherhood play out in politics, the economy, culture and society – and open up conversations about the place of mothers, and the support they deserve in a changing world.

Thinking about motherhood means asking questions about life and death, the nature of care, gender roles, embodiment, sacrifice, autonomy and love. Research by Bible Society has found that the birth of a child frequently prompts young parents to reflect afresh on their values and spirituality. Parents are deeply concerned about their children’s futures, and want all the help they can get in bringing them up.[i]

Motherhood is both personal and profoundly political, as the arena in which new citizens are formed, while relationships are re–negotiated and transformed. Every society must make choices about the healthcare and social support it provides for new mothers. As countries face up to falling birth rates and the challenges of an ageing population, individual and familial decisions about motherhood and childcare take on global significance.

A political question demands political answers. And yet, the lived experiences of women at the key transition stage of matrescence – the physical, emotional and psychological process of becoming a mother – is often hidden or overlooked.  While women’s economic activity has increased, new motherhood is often the juncture where women leave the public world of work, for the private work of childcare. The industrial separation of ‘home’ and ‘workplace’ has left the work of mothering itself behind closed doors and out of sight.  An online survey of UK mothers from October 2023 found that nearly three quarters of mothers felt “invisible”, while 93% felt unappreciated, unacknowledged or unseen once they’ve had children.[ii]  And while some cultures have customs and ceremonies marking a woman’s transition to motherhood, for many new mothers in Britain, this profoundly transformative experience goes unrecognised.

For many – perhaps all – new mothers, parenthood brings with it dramatic shifts in how they view themselves and the world around them. In the words of writer Lucy Jones, reflecting on the struggles of adjusting to her role as a mother: “When I started to realise many [other mothers] were also in crisis, I saw [motherhood] for what it was: the most socio–political experience of my life.” We are delighted that Lucy will be partnering with us as a consultant on this project.

We want to throw light on new mothers and their place in society, as carers who nurture new citizens, workers whose labour is not always rewarded in financial terms, and political beings who may engage deeply with social, political and cultural issues. And, reflecting on the existential questions which so often arise with matrescence, we will ask what difference it can make for a new mother to be guided by a personal faith or supported by a wider faith community.

A society that understands motherhood better, with its broad political relevance and capacity to bridge some of the most fundamental fault lines of the modern world, could be more humane, generous, and equitable.

The first phase of our research is an in–depth case study of new motherhood in the UK, conducted as a partnership between Theos and Bible Society. We will carry out interviews and focus groups with pregnant women and mothers, and professionals directly involved with maternal care and support. These interviews will explore the existential and political implications of the transition to motherhood, its long–term impacts, and whether the care and support available for mothers is adequate to support such shifts. The qualitative work will then be complemented with a nationally representative survey of UK adults, exploring perceptions of motherhood, and comparing spiritual, social, and political attitudes between these groups more broadly.  

In a second phase of the project, we will set out to conduct smaller comparative studies in a small number of other countries. Whilst indicative rather than representative, such a comparison will offer a rich contextualisation to our first phase of research on how motherhood manifests existentially and politically in a range of contexts and cultures. 

This contextualised research will benefit mothers and their families, policy makers, churches and other faith organisations. By listening to new mothers and those who work with them, we aim to find new and better ways to celebrate and support women going through this crucial life stage.  More broadly, we aim at  deepening and enlivening the mainstream conversation around the experience of new motherhood, and highlighting areas where better understanding might be applied to improve both our common life and the lives of mothers themselves.

The project will conclude in Spring 2026.

Project team: Chine McDonald (Director, Theos), Dr Rhiannon McAleer (Head of Research and Impact, Bible Society), Dr Rob Barward–Symonns (Head of Research, Theos), Dr Marianne Rozario (Senior Researcher and Projects Lead, Theos), Dr Eona Bell (Research Assistant, Theos).