‘I want to be seen as a normal mother!’ Ableism and the construction of ‘good motherhood’ in Italy

This article explores how ableism shapes social ideals of ‘good mothering’ in the lives of mothers with disability. Based on fifteen biographical interviews with disabled Italian mothers and framed within feminist disability studies, the research highlights the everyday challenges these women face. A central concern is the fear of being seen as inadequate due to physical difficulties in caregiving tasks such as holding, playing with, or breastfeeding their children. The study shows how societal expectations of ‘good parenting’ place immense pressure on disabled mothers, reinforcing internalized feelings of failure and contributing to their social marginalization. As a result, these mothers are often excluded from normative discourses around parenting and care. By acknowledging the validity of different maternal experiences, the article calls for cultural and institutional shifts that support and empower disabled mothers, rather than measuring them against exclusionary standards.