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ENGL 600

Natality, Mothers, Mothering

Historical course

Fall 2026

Topics

  • Philosophy of birth
  • Mothering and politics
  • Black and queer motherhood
  • Maternal memoir
  • Reproductive choice

Readings

  • Possible reading: Gil Anidjar: On the Sovereignty of Mothers: The Political as Maternal
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Hannah Arendt: The Human Condition
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Jennifer Banks: Natality: Toward a Philosophy of Birth
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Lette Bragg. The Ruins of Solitude: Maternity at the Limits of Academic Discourse
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Alexis Pauline Gumbs, China Martens, and Mai’a Williams: Revolutionary Mothering: Love on The Front Lines
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Sarah Knott: Mother Is a Verb: An Unconventional History
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Naomi Morgenstern: Wild Child: Intensive Parenting and Posthumanist Ethics
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Adrienne Rich: Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Alison Stone: Being Born: Birth and Philosophy
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Zadie Smith: NW
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Rachel Cusk: A Life’s Work: On Becoming a Mother
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Maggie Nelson: The Argonauts
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Sheila Heti: Motherhood
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: A. K. Summers: Pregnant Butch: Nine Long Months Spent in Drag
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Megan Hunter: The End We Start From
    Listed reading
  • Possible reading: Mieko Kawakami: Breasts and Eggs
    Listed reading
Sources