Stolen Motherhood: Aboriginal Mothers and Child Removal in the Stolen Generations Era

The book explores the experiences of Aboriginal mothers who had children removed and the structural barriers to Aboriginal mothering in the Stolen Generations era. It argues that negative perceptions of Aboriginal mothering underpinned removal processes and highlights the importance of inclusive truth-telling processes to understand the history of the Stolen Generations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2021
Publisher: Lexington Books

The removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families gained widespread attention in Australia following the publication of the Bringing Them Home Report in 1997. However, the voices of Indigenous parents were largely absent from this report. The Inquiry attributed the lack of testimony from Indigenous parents to the profound impact of trauma and the stifling effect of parents' overwhelming sense of guilt and despair. A submission by Link-Up NSW highlighted the reluctance of Aboriginal mothers to speak about the immense pain, grief, and anguish they had experienced as a result of losing their children.

This book delves into the experiences of Aboriginal mothers who had their children removed and explores the reasons behind their overwhelming silence regarding their experiences. It identifies the structural barriers to Aboriginal mothering during the Stolen Generations era and examines how contemporary laws, policies, and practices have increased the likelihood of Aboriginal child removal. The author argues that negative perceptions of Aboriginal motherhood played a significant role in the removal processes, leading to tragic consequences.

This book makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the history of the Stolen Generations. It highlights the importance of designing inclusive truth-telling processes that allow for the sharing of diverse perspectives. By shedding light on the experiences of Aboriginal mothers, this book contributes to the ongoing efforts to heal the wounds of the past and promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Australia.

Weight: 503g
Dimension: 228 x 164 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793618627