Definition Essay Mother

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Mother
Mother. The word is one of the most important words in the language. There are multiple ways to refer to a mother: Mom, Mommy, Mamma, and Ma. Even in other languages, the word is easily recognizable for what it represents: mamma, madre, matre, maman. The actual definition of the word mother is easily enough to state: a mother is a female who has given birth to offspring. However, if this limited definition is used, it fails to reflect what and how we actually define a mother in human society. There are many cases, sadly enough, where a woman gave birth to a child and many would not consider her a mother. In addition, if a woman adopts a baby and does not actually give birth to the child, she is …show more content…

Sadly, these cases often reflect the abuse or neglect of the child. If a woman abuses her child or neglects the child’s physical and emotional needs, many individuals would not call her a mother. The stories of child abuse and child neglect horrify us as a society. One can never imagine taking a woman who beat and starved her children and using the word “mother” to describe her. The word is required for the story because it implies that there was a greater requirement for the woman to care for the children or child. Most of the world could not beat or starve a child who has no physical or emotional relationship to us; we still find these actions beyond despicable. However, when we indicate that a “mother” did this to her children, there is a particular horror on the part of society. We use the word mother to imply that she had a greater moral and ethical responsibility to protect these children. When we say the word in reference to these stories, we italicize if verbally. The way the word is said out loud often indicates that we do not believe this is the word for a woman who would do this. We expected more of the woman because she had the title, only if in theory, of mother. We demanded that she put the child’s needs above her own. The woman does not earn the title of mother by giving birth. She earns the title of mother with her actions towards her children. We are particularly anxious to reject the title of mother for a woman who abused the children or neglected them. We apply the term to the woman in a disgusted manner. We are negating her write to the title of mother in the way we say it. The word and its definition is much stronger than its basic definition. It implies trust and

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