How Intensive Mothering Shapes White Mothers' Antiracism Practices: A Study of Identity and Privilege

Objective Guided by symbolic interactionism and intersectional feminist theories, this study explores: (1) the process of affluent White mothers challenging or adopting intensive mothering (IM) to incorporate antiracism into their maternal identity and mothering practices; and (2) the perceived barriers and motivators affluent White mothers identified in their process of integrating antiracism within the current IM paradigm. Background Emerging antiracism scholarship examines why well‐intentioned White parents express an interest in antiracism but fail to follow through within the context of parenting their White children. Current literature does not consider how maternal socialization, within the IM paradigm, informs the integration of antiracism into one's developing maternal identity. Method Data from 18 semi‐structured virtual interviews with affluent White mothers, post‐interview surveys, and member checking were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory guided by feminist methodology. Findings Findings indicate that affluent White mothers who endorse interest in antiracism report several tensions while integrating antiracism into their maternal identity. Conclusion Foundational to each of these tensions is internalized White supremacy (IWS, manifesting as perfectionism and individualism) that surfaced in how this sample of White mothers navigated both IM and their interests in antiracism. Implications This study provides a snapshot of active identity integration by affluent White mothers who are engaged in integrating antiracism values and practices into a maternal identity that embraces perfectionism and individualism, offering a starting point for interventions.