Mother

The mother is the biological and/or social female parent. From a psychological perspective, the mother is the female caregiver who may or may not be biologically related to the infant but who assumes the parental role. The mother-infant dyad represents the primary form of human attachment based on physical dependence as well as affection, both of which are vital for survival. The word “mother” is also used in reference to the source or origin of things. In ancient religions, the earth was referred to in feminine terms as “Mother Earth” and represented the divine figure that was the source of all life. In addition, ancient myths included various female divinities that possessed maternal qualities or fulfilled mother roles for other gods or for humans. With the rise of monotheistic religions, however, the divine maternal images were eradicated, but in Western Christianity, the icon of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, gradually rose to cult status.

The primary cultural scripts for mothers and...