Martha JOY Rose is an award-winning artist and activist. Her pursuits have included academia, large-scale community gatherings, music, media, and Mother Studies. As the founder of the Museum of Motherhood (NYC & FL), and the MOM Art Annex 501c3 nonprofit in St. Petersburg, FL, she has organized International conferences, hosted students, as well as interns, from a wide selection of universities, developed curriculum on motherhood and feminism, and overseen the evolution of a modern m/other’s movement. She is also the founder of MaMaPaLooZa and the Journal of Mother Studies. Current pursuits include scholarship, art-making, and publishing her writing. [More about Joy]
By Martha Joy Rose, Founder & Director
New Mothers, Later-life Mothers, Other Mothers, Wounded Children, Partners M/others & More
An open letter to the couple I met at MoM. You toured the space. We chatted. You were looking for information, encouragement and support. We had some heartfelt conversations. After you left I thought perhaps there was even more I could have offered you. So here it is. You are in my thoughts:
To all those seeking knowledge & inspiration at MoM. Maybe you are pregnant and looking forward to the birth of your child? Or, perhaps you’re contemplating getting pregnant? Maybe you never want to be pregnant? Perhaps you have tried unsuccessfully to have, birth or raise a child. Or, you could possibly be living with regret, loss, trauma or ongoing pain. You have a lot of mixed feelings.
In every case the process of nurturing your one precious and extraordinary life in addition to another new life is an exciting, unpredictable and fraught adventure that no one can completely prepare for.
That being said, everyone can, and should do as much educating, planning and spiritual/emotional preparation as possible when thinking about starting a family. The journey takes guts, grit and a group of supportive souls. No one should have to be pregnant, give birth, or raise a child alone. That includes having a child via fostering, adoption, or surrogacy.
That’s why MoM is here for you. In a country where social isolation is rampant and high expectations are the norm, we believe that a connection to a collective that values your experiences and perspective can be as important as expert advice, classes, and reading materials.
The Museum of Motherhood (MoM) is an institution that champions you; the mothers and creators as well as the lived experiences of offspring (of which we are all part). MoM is also invested in the interdisciplinary, multicultural study of mothers, mothering and motherhood. We call this Mother Studies.
While many academic interpretations including (psychology and sociology) acknowledge the relational status of human beings, Mother Studies focuses on each and every aspect of intersectional motherhood/otherhood. Our attention is on the procreative, creative, and long-term experience of this connected (and sometimes disconnected) status and its transformative nature.
It is our deeply held belief that the important work of birthing and raising future generations, which has historically been the domain of women, requires reverence, respect and genuine compassion.
Not all mothers have the capacity to care well or responsibly for others but the fact remains: every person present on the planet is of womb-born. Also, every person to some degree or other has physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects that connect them both to their birth humans and the humans who raised them.
Therefore, we believe in holding space- in real time- to cherish the embodiment of the life force and all that it entails, which is vast, magnificent and truly awe-inspiring.
We come together in a shared, sacred state to process the miracle of our lives and the lives yet to come. We honor the creators, as well as the partners who have contributed to our whole human family.
We realize the uniqueness of each of us is reflected in the experiences, stories, and truths we hold, and that those truths can evolve, change and have the potential to be healed. We believe that in healing ourselves we heal the planet and that translates to a more deeply held conviction about the sacred complexity of each and every living being.
Why MoM?
The Museum of Motherhood is profoundly important for m/others and others, including women without children- the people who love them- and students. The work we do reaches beyond the immediate experience of motherhood, offering insights, education, and advocacy that resonate with a broad audience. Here’s why we are important to these groups:
Empowering All Women, Regardless of Parenthood, Inclusive of All Reproductive Identities
The Museum highlights the complexity and diversity of womanhood: MoM underscores the universal strength and contributions of women in all forms including daughters, sisters, other-mothers and advocates. For women without children, the Museum provides a space that honors their choices, whether pursuing career goals, personal growth, or advocacy. For all folx: including partners, husbands, fathers and sons, we offer a clear perspective of the joys and challenges we encounter and share as we build narratives of compassion.
Support for Women’s Choices and Voices: Many people face societal pressure or feel isolated. The Museum serves as a validation of the profundity of human experience, offering a space that supports individual choices and voices. By celebrating each individual’s autonomy and unique situation, we show how creativity and carework contribute to the fabric of society in powerful ways. MoM is a place to connect with education and exhibitions that explore how our bodies, minds and spirits intersect with the larger narrative of gender, justice, spirituality, herstory, and societal transformation.
Understanding the Broader Context of Gender: For women who may not be mothers, the Museum provides an opportunity to explore motherhood as a societal construct—what it means, how it’s valued, and how it intersects with issues like gender equality, economic justice, and family structures. This can help foster a deeper understanding of how societal expectations around gender impact all women, whether they are mothers or not.
Students: Building Future Advocates and Thought Leaders
Inspiration for Personal Growth: the Museum provides opportunities for personal reflection—on the complexity of personhood, the multifaceted roles we play in society, and the importance of compassion, solidarity and support. MoM encourages self-discovery and empowerment, showing that we are all part of one big human family. MoM is a place where students can feel empowered and inspired to carve out their own paths and pursue their unique callings.
Educational Resources and Critical Thinking: The Museum offers a rich educational experience for students across disciplines—whether they are studying sociology, gender studies, public health, or art history. The Museum is a living classroom, with exhibits, programs, and research initiatives that encourage students to critically engage with topics like gender inequality, maternal health, feminist theory, and the socialization of women. For students, this is a place where they can learn about real-world issues while being inspired to create change in their own communities and careers.
Interdisciplinary Learning: The Museum of Motherhood invites students to approach complex topics from a multidisciplinary perspective—from history and psychology to politics, art, and health. This can stimulate innovative thinking and cross-collaboration between various academic fields, helping to cultivate a generation of future leaders who understand the intersections of gender, health, and culture.
Promoting Gender Justice and Maternal Health Advocacy: For students studying public health, social work, or women’s studies, the Museum provides essential resources and insights on maternal health, reproductive rights, and gender-based policies. It offers real-world case studies of how societal systems impact mothers and families, which can be applied in their future careers. By engaging with the Museum’s mission, students can develop a sense of urgency around improving maternal healthcare systems and advancing gender justice.
Inspiring Future Social Change: The Museum serves as a springboard for students to become activists and advocates for social change. Whether through volunteer work, internships, or simply engaging with the Museum’s content, students gain hands-on experience in advocating for better maternal health policies, supporting women’s rights, and promoting a culture of inclusivity for all types of families. These experiences prepare them to carry these important causes into their professional lives, becoming the next generation of changemakers.
Creating Empathy and Connection: For students who are perhaps unfamiliar with the lived experiences of mothers, the Museum offers a unique opportunity for empathy-building. They can connect with the stories of mothers, learn about the challenges they face, and understand the importance of creating a supportive environment for families. This is vital for fostering a society where future leaders—whether in business, government, or healthcare—are equipped with a deep sense of compassion and a commitment to gender equity.
For M/others and Others
Supporting the Museum of Motherhood (MoM) is important because it highlights and preserves the often-overlooked history, contributions, and experiences of m/others. MoM provides a space for education, exhibitions, advocacy, and reflection on a topic that affects everyone in society, regardless of gender or parental status. MoM supports and amplifies the work of mother artists in contemporary society and facilitates maternal health and well-being through our exhibits, programming and community.
Mother Made Art, M/other Artist, Mother Maker, Creator & Interpreter: Reproductive Identity
Mother-made art recognizes the works and endeavors of those making fine and performing arts who are self-identified mothers and those whose work is impacted by, or is focused on, experiences of pregnancy, birth, care-work, fertility, loss, adoption, fostering, surrogacy, and m/otherhood inclusive of all reproductive identities. This includes artistic interpretations highlighting the lifespan of makers of maternal experience, action, matrescence, and embodiment, within personal and relationally organized emotions, biologies, technologies, and behaviors.
Matrescence is the term for the physical, emotional, hormonal and social transitions that people experience as they go through the ages and stages of being and becoming a m/other which encompasses a lifetime or procreative evolutions.
Reproductive identity: An emerging concept
Deciding whether or not to become a parent is a developmental milestone in the adult life course yet the specific term of reproductive identity is not commonplace. Significant demographic shifts in fertility and the social ideals of self-realization have impacted how reproduction is performed and families are structured, particularly for women and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA) communities. Like gender and sexuality, reproduction is a healthy aspect of human expression to be openly explored, destigmatized, and self-authored. This article will review relevant identity development theories and propose a preliminary definition for the emerging concept of reproductive identity. Implications for research, education, and counseling will be considered. Aurelie Athan (National Library of Medicine)
M/other (noun): is a self-identified individual who is relationally connected through pregnancy, birth, surrogacy, genetics, care-work, and/or adoption. Historically female; they are one who divides (time, labor, emotion, and/or genetic material) and are paradoxically increased by the experience. Best explained by the equation: me + other (m/other) a mother is one who is connected, or disconnected, to another, genetically through procreative activity or linked through identity, care-work, and/or association. This special relational status incorporates the phenomenon that motherhood is otherhood, which is its most fundamental principle.
Herstory, Her Story, and Herstory have all emerged, and are used interchangeably, as part of a feminist critique of a global view dominated by the male perspective. The usage of the word challenges convention and invites people to consider alternative sources for information including a world-view which is inclusive of women, yet not invested in a hierarchy of power. We are in fact, merely making attempts to level the playing field. *additional sources
Mother Studies as a field of interdisciplinary study devoted to the issues, experiences, topics, history, and culture of m/others, mothering, and motherhood. The field pivots within the humanities and includes the lived experiences of those identifying as mothers. Mother Studies examines postmodern critical theory and praxis, identifying a nexus of m/otherness as a determining force of intellectual and personal expression. While many academic interpretations including psychology and sociology acknowledge the relational status of human beings, Mother Studies focuses on the lived experiences within a variety of circumstance with attention to the procreative connection/disconnection status of pregnancy, birth, adoption, surrogacy, fostering, male-mothering, other-mothering, care-work, reproductive identity, and self-identification.
Paramount to this study is the examination of me=other, or me vs. other, or M/other; from one who another has evolved, or is nurtured. The folkloric, cultural and paradoxical nature of being made and unmade is key to the theory of who and what a mother is. We must ask, how does the concept of m/otherness; one who is part of your, or you; who are part of another, or intrinsically connected to another – motivate action in a world conceived by relational exchange – as opposed to a world of alienation informed by violent, institutionalized, hierarchical constructions? Here we attempt to untangle these theories, ideas, and actions. Every human being is the result of procreative experience. This creates a relational status that results in being connected psychologically, materially, or organically with another (even if one is disconnected from the day-to-day activities). This connected status is key to the concept of m/otherness or mother-ness.