29 August 2022 Monday
Oh no! Am I not the “Perfect Mom”?!
Today, social media applications are used extensively by many people. This situation has led to the emergence of new professions with the changing habits of the digital world. Stating that one of the most striking subjects on social media is “ınfluencer” mothers, Asst. Prof. Dr. Nazar Bal indicated that sharing influencer mothers' experiences creates pressure on other mothers to be perfect.
Social media has become a space where people offer a certain performance to impress other people. Some do this with their babies, some with the books they read, some with the places they visit or discover. The lives shared on social media bring the feeling of “perfect” to the fore. Idealized mothering on these platforms is also presented as “perfect mom”.
THE SOCIAL PRESSURE ON MOTHERING IS ALSO SEEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The meanings attributed to mothering are changing as the structures in society change. The reflections of this process started to become visible on social media as well. While the comments made under photos or videos are about praising the mother, negative criticisms are also frequently encountered, and the social pressure on mothering is also seen here. Asst. Prof. Dr. Nazar Bal from Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Economics, Administrative and Social Sciences Department of Sociology stated the following: “The main purpose of sharing mothering experiences is to make feel other mothers that you are not alone. It seems that this public opinion/image means perfection, sanctified mothering, disregard for privacy, a desire for approval and appreciation. This situation causes other mothers to experience feelings such as lack, guilt and inadequacy in the care of their children.”
PARTNERSHIPS INCREASES SALES
Social media has become a business area for mothers who want to take care of their children and work from home. Influencer mothers have a high level of interaction with sharing such as baby shower, hospital room decorations, birth moment, gender reveal, which have become popular in recent years. Emphasizing that it is of great importance both for the companies that sell these products and for mothers to provide information about the products they use to other moms, Asst. Prof. Dr. Bal stated in this way companies affiliate with the mothers and agreed in return for a certain fee or product.
