Performing Parenthood: Non-Normative Fathers and Mothers in Spanish Narrative and Film

Performing Parenthood explores diverse motherhood and fatherhood representations in Spain, challenging traditional notions and highlighting the spectrum of parental identities. It connects canonical works to recent examples, expanding the conversation about the Spanish family beyond traditional views and offering visibility to alternative family models.

Format: Hardback
Length: 258 pages
Publication date: 12 July 2024
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

Performing Parenthood: Exploring Non-Normative Parenting in Contemporary Spanish Literature and Film
In Performing Parenthood, authors explore the diverse portrayals of motherhood and fatherhood in twentieth- and twenty-first-century Spain, highlighting how the family has adapted or struggled to adapt to Spain's changing socioeconomic landscape. Through an examination of non-normative parenting in contemporary Spanish literature and film, the book challenges traditional conceptions of parenthood and argues for a more inclusive and diverse understanding of the role.
The book draws on examples of non-normative parenting, such as gay literary father figures, unconventional physical touch between mother and child, fathers who cross-dress, lesbian maternal community building, non-biological parenting, and disabled bodies, to illustrate the diverse identities and performances of motherhood and fatherhood. By connecting canonical works to recent examples, the book establishes a unique dialogue that expands the conversation about the Spanish family beyond the traditional view, bringing visibility to alternative family models.
The authors argue that parental identities exist on a spectrum, allowing many parental figures to disregard heteronormative standards and experience parenthood in meaningful ways. By highlighting literary and cinematic examples of alternative Spanish families, Performing Parenthood provides a glimpse into an evolving society influenced by national and global changes.
Overall, Performing Parenthood is a thought-provoking and important contribution to the study of family and gender in Spain, offering a fresh perspective on the diverse experiences and identities of modern parents.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 229 x 155 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487554217