Intersections between motherhood and social class: a systematic review of recent academic literature (2015-2023)
Abstract
This article is grounded in the recognition of the limited academic exploration of the intersection between motherhood and social class, two categories that have historically been studied separately. Its aim is to systematically examine recent scientific production (2015–2023) in order to identify trends, theoretical gaps, and analytical categories that contribute to understanding how class inequalities shape the experiences and representations of motherhood. Using the PRISMA-ScR model, 190 studies indexed in Scopus and Web of Science were reviewed, of which 45 met the inclusion criteria. The narrative analysis identified four central categories: stigmatization, grammar of conduct, neoliberal context, and maternal cultural capital. These categories reveal how social constructions of motherhood, mediated by class order, reproduce symbolic violence and gender norms that constrain mothers’ life trajectories.
Received: April 14, 2025; Final version: February 24 , 2026
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