2004 Mothers Day Campaign:
Mothers - The Real Story

Overview

Goals of the Campaign

• To encourage mothers to talk with each other about their real life experience as mothers.
• To spotlight the ways in which the media shapes stereotypes about mothers that do not match our experiences and creates an idealized version of motherhood that none of us can hope to reach.

Theme

The theme of the campaign is "Mothers - The Real Story." Stereotypes of motherhood and the reality we experience do not match. We want mothers to talk honestly to each other about both the ups and downs of motherhood. We want mothers to be more aware of the role the media plays in promulgating these stereotypes and in contributing to idealized versions of motherhood that are impossible to achieve.

Dates

The 2004 Mother’s Day Campaign: Mothers - The Real Story will run from April 19 to May 31, 2004

Campaign Activities

Moms Media Reality Check - A collective media watch by all members and the public to identify the "Seven Deadly Stereotypes" of mothers in the media: Bon Bon Eating Mom, Career Crazed Mom, Supermom, 24/7 Bliss Mom, Martyr Mom, Glam Mom, and Domestic Goddess Mom. Members and the public can submit examples and our members will vote on the Top 3 most powerful illustrations of the stereotypes to be announced right before Mother’s Day. For more information, to download the Moms Media Reality Check Guide click here.

Campaign T-shirts - T-shirts are available for purchase, sporting the phrase Mothers - The Real Story, Not as easy as it looks on T.V. Order by March 30 to guarantee delivery in time for the start of the campaign on April 19!

Mother’s Day Cards - Free downloadable cards you can give to moms you know for Mother’s Day, and recruit new members too! The card design provides a fun, humorous way to say Happy Mother’s Day to someone you know and let them know about the campaign.
Click here to download in a Greeting Card format.
Click here to download in a Postcard format.

Chapter Events Coast to Coast - Chapters across the country will hold special campaign chapter meetings, movie nights and other activities of their choosing to support the campaign. Visit the Campaign Events page to see a list of events and their locations. For ideas and materials to host your own event, visit the Tools for You page.

Chapter and Event Tools - Chapters will receive an electronic toolkit that includes a complete guide to holding a campaign chapter meeting and complete press kit materials. Visit the Tools for You page to download these materials.

Members Only Online Discussions with Authors - During the campaign we will have three special guests on the members only POWER Loop . In late April, Susan Douglas, co-author of The Mommy Myth. The Idealization of Motherhood and How it Has Undermined Women (2004) will join us on the POWER loop to talk about the depiction of mothers in the media over the past 30 years. In May, Faulkner Fox, author of Dispatches from a Not So Perfect Life (2004) and Andi Buchanan, author of Mother Shock (2003) will join us to talk about their books about their personal experiences of motherhood. Join Mothers & More now to participate! Then email nationaloffice@mothersandmore.org to get your username and password. If you’re a member but not on the POWER loop yet, sign up by visiting the Members Only site.

Letters to the Editor - Across the country chapters and individual members will send letters to the editor of their local newspapers and emails to friends and family based on templates provided by Mothers & More. Visit the Tools for You page.

National Media - At the national level, Mothers & More is conducting a comprehensive national media campaign. Visit the Press Room page to see national press releases and articles about the campaign.

Donate - Members and the public will be able to donate to Mothers & More to support the campaign and the organization.