Taking a central topic in sociology of the family and women' s studies, this text links motherhood to broader sociological debates on modernity, rationality and individualism. The text includes theoretical and ethnographic material, a review of contemporary discussions of rationality and the self, and a review of the literature on mothering and morality. Current models of mothering are based on the assumption that infants have biologically determined needs that mothers learn to recognize and meet in socially approved ways. Chris Everingham develops an alternative model of nurturing that locates mothers as subjects, actively constructing the perspective of their child while asserting their own needs and interests in a particular socio-cultural context. This book extends contenporary scholarly debates on mothering and modernity and should be a useful resource for teaching in women's studies and sociology.