Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SingleMother (Evolving Attitudes toward Single Motherhood in the UK and Russia)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-10-01 al 2023-09-30
The survey is important for several reasons. It helps uncover the cultural tools, both literary and visual, that contribute to the construction of the notion of single motherhood. This research advances gender equality, recognizing the diversity within the community of single mothers, and challenging stereotypes. It provides insights into the impact of cultural norms on the role of literature and visual media in shaping societal perceptions.
The project has been designed to fulfil three main research objectives. First, the research investigated contemporary policies on single motherhood, with a focus on the UK and Russia. Second, the project examined the gendered cultural ideologies in the UK and Russia related to single motherhood, from the early 21st century to the present. This analysis includes self-help books, children’s illustrated literature and young adult fiction. Finally, the survey investigated how these ideologies and attitudes are represented in children’s illustrated texts, delving into the visual aspect of meaning-making in picturebooks and children’s illustrated magazines.
The project’s results offer valuable insights into the representation of single mothers and their experiences in literature and visual media in the UK and Russia. The outcomes contribute to the fields of gender studies, political studies, literary studies, and social semiotics. They enhance our understanding of cultural norms and values related to single motherhood, providing a basis for discussions on societal perceptions and attitudes. The visual grammar of single motherhood discerned in the project can serve as a valuable resource for educators. The insights into the representation of single mothers can inform policy discussions related to single mothers’ rights and societal acceptance.
The Comparative Cross-Cultural Analysis was focused on key questions whether there are differences in the representations of single mothers in these two cultural contexts and whether valuable insights about cultural norms and semiotic tools can be derived in English-speaking and Russian literature. This analysis is based on the concept of a multiple approach to text, which explores hidden cultural messages within texts. It assessed the meaningful distance between text and illustration to determine the implicit ideological, political, and cultural messages. Social semiotics and multimodal discourse analysis were utilised to understand the visual and symbolic elements involved in depictions, to describe cultural encoding systems and identify artistic tools used in visual representations.
The research results were published in scientific journals and made available in Open Access repositories. All publications included reference to EU funding as specified in the Grant Agreement. The project, its objectives, and the MSCA funding scheme were discussed at various conferences and seminars. They are showcased on a website where relevant content is now available. The results were delivered at talks and seminars held by the Centre for Research in Children’s Literature and the Knowledge, Power, and Politics research cluster at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge. The project was featured on the Faculty website. An interview titled “Are Working Moms Rare in Children’s PictureBooks?” was also published on Workingmums.co.uk.
The potential impacts of the project are multifaceted and reach beyond academia. The research has implications for social policies related to single mothers, influencing the development of policies that better address their needs and challenges. It challenges stereotypes, reduces stigma, and promotes empathy and support for single mothers. The project contributes to cultural development by exploring the role of literature and visual media in shaping societal norms. It deepens our understanding of how culture evolves and influences perceptions of single motherhood. The innovative methodologies and interdisciplinary approach used in the project advances the field of academic research. It provides a model for future research into underrepresented social groups and the role of literature in cultural development.