SHARING SPACE: Do Real Feminists Attachment Parent?

As attachment parenting has become more popular, many feminists condemn
it as fundamentally oppressive to mothers. Their critique is based on misinterpretation and misrepresentation of
attachment theory, the neuro-psychological body of research that underlies attachment parenting. In
contravention of the great weight of scientific evidence, many feminists downplay the nurturance needs of
young children as a defensive measure against the neo-conservative backlash against changing women’s roles.
Mothers and their children would be better served by a feminist articulation of a real family values agenda that
calls for society to support fathers and mothers engaged in the socially meaningful work of child-rearing. KEY
WORDS: Attachment parenting, attachment theory, feminism, family values, child-rearing, nurturing.