In the first phase the IMS, (approved by the National Ethics Committee in Australia), has amassed 4708 female participants in Australia and New Zealand. The second phase, starts up this year and takes the project into the United States and United Kingdom. Statisticians and researchers have hailed that the IMS stands to become a landmark study in the new century insofar as understanding the emotional and motivational components of mothering and womanhood.

The IMS researchers, motherhood author Jodie Hedley-Ward, and clinical psychologist Dr Angela Huntsman will be presenting in New York City this May, at the Mamapalooza “Representing Motherhood: Mothers in the Arts, Literature, Media and Popular Culture” conference, May 21st, 2010, New York City. They will also be addressing the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement (MIRCI) conference in Toronto on May 22nd, 2010. There they will discuss the centrality of motherhood in our cultures, within social sustainability, and within the emotional fabric of our daily lives along with much awaited key findings from the data analysis.

The critical early findings indicates that within the field of mothering and motherhood, the IMS may hold more concentrated power of information than has been gathered about mothers at any one time or for any one purpose to date.

Jodie Hedley-Ward (www.yousexymother.com.au)

Jodie Hedley-Ward holds a Master of Business degree (Otago University, New Zealand) and is the author of ‘You Sexy Mother – a life changing approach to motherhood’ (Exisle Publishing, 2008) and You Sexy Mother: The Journal (2010). Jodie has a third motherhood-related book scheduled for release in 2010, and is the Associate Researcher for the International Motherhood Study.

Dr Angela Huntsman

Dr Angela Huntsman is the Director of the Australian Institute of Human Development and Principle Researcher of the International Motherhood Study. Angela is a California and Queensland licensed clinical psychologist with over 18 years experience in a combined practice of teaching, consultation and research.

ANU Free Public Forum

MOTHERS: CROSS CULTURAL DIALOGUES
Monday 2nd November 2009, 9.30-1pm

The Finkel Theatre, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, Building 131, Garran Rd, ANU

This forum is free and open to the public, please register attendance with ANU Events. T: 02 6125 4144  E: Events@anu.edu.au

The diverse experiences of motherhood will be explored in this public forum hosted by ANU in association with Shared Spaces. It will bring together popular authors, researchers, dancers and policy-makers in a series of conversations to explore questions about the diversity of mothering today – working mothers, ‘stay-at-home’ mothers, single mothers. The forum will examine a series of questions: What is the value and visibility of mothering in contemporary Australia? How are the demands of work and life, consumerism and care negotiated within families and societies as a whole, and how might policy-makers respond? How do the changing experiences of mothers in Australia compare with those of mothers in India and in Papua New Guinea?

Program

Chaired by Professor Margaret Jolly, Gender Relations Centre, ANU College of Aisa and the Pacific

Choreographing Motherhood
Padma Menon, Choreographer and Director, Shared Spaces Incorporated

Becoming a New Mother: Work, Life & Dance
Dr Katerina Teaiwa, Lecturer & Pacific Studies Convenor, ANU College of Asia & the Pacific

The ‘You Sexy Mother’ Story: Book, Catalyst & Connector
Jodie Hedley-Ward, author of You Sexy Mother and collaborator online Motherhood Study

Looking at Motherhood through the Eyes of Social Sustainability
Dr Angela Huntsman, Director of Australian Institute for Human Development, QLD

Time Limits: Work, Family & Mothering
Dr Lyndall Strazdins, Fellow, National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health.
ANU College of Medicine, Biology & Environment

Mothering: Politics & Policy Issues
Senator Kate Lundy, ALP Senator for the Australian Capital Territory

Caste, Class & the Diversity of Women’s Responses to Changing Conditions of Maternity in India
Associate Professor Kalpana Ram, Head of Anthropology, Macquarie University

Maternity & Matriliny: Growing Babies in the Trobriands of Papua New Guinea
Dr Katherine Lepani, Lecturer, Social Foundations of Medicine
ANU

With over 4000 New Zealand and Australian women having already participated, this study is not only ground-breaking in terms of sheer numbers, but it also represents a first in that we are striving to capture the ‘collective experience’ of today’s generation of mums… something which has never before been attempted in Australasia in such a comprehensive way.

We cannot thank you enough for your participation and support of this study. We have relied on the astonishing power of women to connect, inspire and challenge one another to do great things and the number of you who have taken part in this study reinforces just how amazing we are at doing that.

Please encourage every woman you know to get involved and sign on for the study. This month is Pinktober, Breast Cancer awareness month. A time where we celebrate ourselves as women and reflect on the fragility of life itself. The Motherhood Study offers all women a chance to share their unique story and we are confident that the collective ’story’ will go on to do more good than we could ever imagine at this point in time.

As researchers, we are hopeful that this study will inspire further research, along with more engagement and dialogue… and ultimately that it will go on to become the landmark motherhood study for the 21st Century.

Help us to share your story - Help us to share ‘our story’.

We need you to spread the word to everyone you know.

Any one of us can make a difference and this is your opportunity today.

www.motherhoodstudy.net

We thank you!

Dr Angela Huntsman  &  Jodie Hedley-Ward (www.yousexymother.net)

We need your help TODAY!

In order to ensure that the Motherhood Study becomes powerful enough to make a true and lasting difference to the lives of mothers nationally and internationally, we need to get thousands more mums participating.

Please help us today by:

• Putting a link to www.motherhoodstudy.net on your facebook
• Mention it on Twitter (or any other social media site you are using)
• Forward this message or a link to the website to everyone in your address book
• Put the details and website in your school, kindy or daycare newsletter
• Shout about it from the rooftops..!

Thousands of mums across Australia and New Zealand have already supported this ground-breaking research study by completing the anonymous, online survey… But we need thousands more to do the same.

This study is by mums, for mums, with no hidden agenda. It is enabling us to capture the thoughts and feelings of a whole generation of mothers, in a way that has never been done before.

Be a part of history. Make a difference. Spread the following words…

Motherhood Study International
‘Every Mother Invited & United’
www.motherhoodstudy.net
Inspired by the International Non-Fiction Best Seller ‘You Sexy Mother’, this study explores what it means to be a mother in the 21st Century…. please visit www.motherhoodstudy.net to take part in the ground-breaking online survey today!

Thank you for all your support to date and thank you in advance for deciding to do something powerful with this message.

With much gratitude,

Jodie & Angela

Jodie Hedley-Ward & Dr Angela Huntsman
(Research Team, Motherhood Study International)

Thanks for joining us. We are so excited about kicking off this study and hope that you will share this with all the women in your life.

We are delighted with the incredible support we have had to date from mothers across the nation and need each and every one of you to continue spreading the word about this powerful and potentially life-changing study.

Happy Mother’s Day to all!

Dr Angela Huntsman and Jodie Hedley-Ward
(Motherhood Study Research Team)
www.motherhoodstudy.net