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ooks& filmsThe battle between fem<strong>in</strong>ism andmotherhood: Is it fruitful to multiply, ordo the <strong>in</strong>tense needs <strong>of</strong> children limitthe growth <strong>of</strong> the women who love them?FRUITFUL: A Real Mother <strong>in</strong>the Modern Worldby Anne Roiphe(Boston: Houghton Miffl<strong>in</strong>,$22.95)REPRODUCING PERSONS:Issues <strong>in</strong> Fem<strong>in</strong>ist Bioethicsby Laura M. Purdy(New York: Cornell UniversityPress, $42.50; $16.95, paper)THE GOOD(AND NOT SO GOOD)MOTHERREVIEWED BY ROBIN BROMLEYnism, which to her "was always to givewomen fuller, better lives, a chance for equalitywith men, and an opportunity to use all <strong>of</strong>The notion <strong>of</strong> motherhood, never simple orparticularly stable, is aga<strong>in</strong> under pressure— their human potential" and the needs <strong>of</strong> children,which <strong>in</strong> our culture has limited suchthis time on several fronts. While advances <strong>in</strong>reproductive technology and changes <strong>in</strong> familystructures stir debate about where, when agony <strong>of</strong> wrench<strong>in</strong>g herself away from a cry-personal growth. For Roiphe, this <strong>in</strong>cludes theand why women want children, the sharp <strong>in</strong>crease<strong>in</strong> work<strong>in</strong>g mothers heightens the ten-as ambivalence about the movement itself. Im<strong>in</strong>gchild to pursue her own ambitions, as wellsion between self-fulfillment and the demands ages <strong>of</strong> Roiphe herself go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to labor alone<strong>of</strong> family, and provokes anxiety about who <strong>in</strong> a snow bank; <strong>of</strong> her mother sipp<strong>in</strong>g Scotchtakes care <strong>of</strong> the children.<strong>in</strong> a bathtub, long<strong>in</strong>g for divorce; and <strong>of</strong> be<strong>in</strong>gTwo recent books: Fruitful: A Real Mother <strong>in</strong>encouraged to leave her playwright husbandthe Modern World, by the novelist and columnistAnne Roiphe, and Reproduc<strong>in</strong>g Persons: Is-grateful the author is for the fuller, better lifeand f<strong>in</strong>d her own voice, make it clear howsues <strong>in</strong> Fem<strong>in</strong>ist Bioethics, by philosophy pro-fem<strong>in</strong>isfessor Laura M. Purdy, reveal just how urgent way fem<strong>in</strong>ists have belittled motherhood,gave her. But she is also angry at thethese questions have become. In widely differentcontexts and from different po<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>of</strong> view, more recently, attacked women's motives forabandoned the demand for child care and,these two books def<strong>in</strong>e the major issues <strong>in</strong> the hav<strong>in</strong>g children <strong>in</strong> the first place. In fact, thecurrent debate about reproductive choices and book's title was <strong>in</strong>spired by one <strong>of</strong> the movement'searly swipes at mothers: Betty Roll<strong>in</strong>'stheir political ramifications. They also revealhow divisive the debate can be.1970 command <strong>in</strong> an issue <strong>of</strong> Life magaz<strong>in</strong>e,Fruitful, Anne Roiphe's 11th book, is a personalreflection on her experience as a mother, we could understand," she said, "even he"If God were speak<strong>in</strong>g to us today <strong>in</strong> a voiceas well as fem<strong>in</strong>ism's impact on her and the would say 'Be fruitful! Don't multiply.' "culture—at least the middle-class part <strong>of</strong> it. Itwas prompted by The Morn<strong>in</strong>g After, her ROIPHE IS OUT TO PROVE HOW WRONGdaughter Kate Roiphe's critique <strong>of</strong> fem<strong>in</strong>ism's Roll<strong>in</strong> was; real mothers can do both, shefocus on date rape and sexual harassment. argues.The book is also a plea for a more realisticassessment <strong>of</strong> what mother<strong>in</strong>g is: "It's allProud <strong>of</strong> her daughter's work and also aware<strong>of</strong> the irony <strong>of</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g "a critic <strong>of</strong> the revolution very well <strong>in</strong> the abstract to speak <strong>of</strong> the<strong>in</strong> which I was a foot soldier and she a beneficiary,"Roiphe says, "I am a mother fem<strong>in</strong>ist. I thick <strong>of</strong> it, we have to consider, is it worth it,virtues <strong>of</strong> motherhood. . . but up close, <strong>in</strong> theask myself is that a contradiction, and this what does it do to us, how exactly does itbook beg<strong>in</strong>s." It's Roiphe's chance to address make us feel. Because the emotions, good andher own doubts about the women's movement,as well as its goals and achievements. blocks <strong>of</strong> our next political direction." Roiphebad, <strong>of</strong> the common mother are the build<strong>in</strong>gThe chief contradiction Roiphe addresses is takes a significant step toward redef<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gthe personal conflict between the goal <strong>of</strong> femi-motherhood <strong>in</strong> the second section <strong>of</strong> her book,ROBINBROMLEY is a writer, editor and mother liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> New York City,S p r i n g 1 9 9 7 • O N T H E I S S U E S 47