Overview

Drawing on examples from literature and film, Performing Parenthood explores the multiplicity within non-normative familial constructions in Spain. Performing Parenthood reveals different enactments of motherhood and fatherhood in twentieth- and twenty-first-century Spain, showing how the family has adapted, or at times failed to do so, within the context of Spain's changing socioeconomic reality. Through an examination of examples of non-normative parenthood in contemporary Spanish literature and film including gay literary father figures, subversive physical touch between mother and child, fathers who cross-dress, lesbian maternal community building, non-biological parenting, and disabled bodies the book argues that current conceptualisations of parenthood should be amplified to reflect the various existing identities and performances of motherhoods and fatherhoods. Connecting canonical works to recent works, the book establishes a unique dialogue that will expand the conversation about the Spanish family beyond the traditional view, bringing visibility to alternative family models. It argues that parental identities exist on a spectrum, enabling many parental figures to disregard heteronormative standards imposed upon the role and allowing them to experience parenthood in meaningful ways. Bringing visibility to literary and cinematic examples of alternative Spanish families, Performing Parenthood provides a glimpse into an evolving society influenced by national and global changes.

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9781487554217

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Reviews

"""Performing Parenthood offers a compelling analysis of the diverse spectrum of non-normative family configurations and relationships in contemporary Spanish cultural representations. Arguing that parenthood is a performative identity, Jer�nimo shows how fluid and shifting gender roles and family models reflect the anxieties of an evolving society, while also making space for alternative familial constructions and concepts of parenthood. Elegantly written and cogently argued, the book makes a significant contribution to the field of modern Spanish literary and cultural studies.""--Akiko Tsuchiya, Professor of Hispanic Studies, Washington University in St. Louis ""What if the family, a foundational element of traditional Spanish culture, is not the normative institution it appears to be? This is the counterintuitive and attractive premise that drives Jer�nimo's book. From queer parenting to alternative masculinities, her exploration of non-normative families in novels and films compels readers to widen their understanding of parenting and caregiving in contemporary Spain to a more diverse catalogue of experiences.""--Francisco Fern�ndez de Alba, A. Howard Meneely Professor of Hispanic Studies, Wheaton College"

Author Information

Heather Jernimo is an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Northern Iowa. She lives in Cedar Falls.

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