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ERIC Number: EJ1475324
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2322
EISSN: EISSN-1468-3148
Available Date: 2025-06-16
Solomon Judges Medea: Experiences of Mothers with Intellectual Disabilities Whose Children Were Removed
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, v38 n3 e70082 2025
Background: This paper explores experiences of mothers with intellectual disabilities, with an emphasis on oppressive circumstances and stereotypes that contribute to poorer antenatal and social outcomes for mothers and their children, potentially leading to child removal. Drawing parallels to archetypical figures of Solomon and Medea, we explore how society treats these mothers differently. The research question is: what social, institutional, and personal circumstances lead to the loss of parental rights for mothers with intellectual disabilities? Method: We conducted a small qualitative study to explore the experiences of mothers with intellectual disabilities whose children had been removed in Lithuania. Twelve mothers participated in semi-structured interviews to examine the interplay of oppressive social, institutional, and personal factors contributing to the loss of their parental rights. A thematic analysis was conducted, identifying six key themes. Results: The mothers in this study shared experiences of being trapped in cycles of abuse, feeling unsupported by others, and the emotional toll of separation from their children. Their experiences of being devalued and set up to fail resonate with stereotypical mother figures in the myths of Solomon and Medea. Conclusions: Authority leverages its power to separate these mothers from their children and erase their maternal identity, punishing women who challenge traditional expectations of how a mother should behave.
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Centre for Disability Studies, Institute of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania