Between the ‘Mother of the Sons’ and October 7: the motherhood trap in Israeli public discourse

From the early years of the state, motherhood has constituted the defining element of Jewish women’s social position. Thus, over the years, motherhood has been used as a potentially transformative political force, particularly regarding issues of national security. By defining themselves as mothers, women have entered the public sphere without challenging patriarchal structures, yet, by doing so, have simultaneously reinforced these structures and constrained female agency. Examining motherhood in Israeli public discourse in light of mothers who were role models, such as Rivka Guber and Miriam Peretz, and the effort to mobilize women as mothers in national protest movements, the article shows how gender boundaries have remained stable over time, and motherhood continues to anchor female public roles. It thus offers motherhood as a useful prism for examining preservation and change in public discourse in Israel.