Motherhood and Identity: The Invisible Change Redefining Women That Almost No One Names; How to Reconstruct Yourself, According to a Specialist

The transition to motherhood is a profound and often unspoken transformation that reshapes a woman's identity, priorities, and how she is perceived by society. This phenomenon, known as 'matrescence,' goes beyond the physical changes, impacting a woman's sense of self and her place in the world.

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She becomes a mother... and something else changes without making a sound. It's not in the mirror. It doesn't appear in clinical tests. But it settles into the way she thinks, presents herself, and is read by others.

Specialist Ana Estrella highlights that while academic research has documented the hormonal, emotional, and psychological shifts associated with motherhood since the 1970s, the societal conversation has often focused narrowly on the physical aspects. This oversight leads to a lack of understanding and support for the deeper identity changes women experience.

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it is known as matrescence: a process in which priorities, perception change and, at the same time, the way in which the environment responds to the new stage of a woman, which is becoming a mother.

Estrella emphasizes that motherhood does not erase a woman's individual identity but rather transforms her priorities. The challenge lies in integrating this new role with existing dimensions of her life, such as her professional career, without losing herself in the process. The article points out that societal assumptions can lead to women being overlooked for opportunities simply because they are mothers, underscoring the need for a more nuanced understanding of this life stage.

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It is assumed: 'not her, because she is already a mom', without even asking her.

This perspective is crucial for recognizing the multifaceted nature of a mother's identity and the societal barriers that can arise. It calls for a broader conversation that acknowledges the internal and external shifts, advocating for a supportive environment where women can navigate this transition without their multifaceted identities being eclipsed.

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Today, when a woman reaches this stage, she usually feels that everything changes: her life is no longer the same, she learns new things and perceives herself differently, but she doesn't always know how to express those changes outwardly. Additionally, labels are also generated socially.