Two Mary Immaculate College (MIC) academics, Dr Susan Liddy—a Limerick native and lecturer in Media and Communication Studies—and Dr Deirdre Flynn—a Longford native and lecturer in 21st Century Literature—have edited a landmark handbook that offers a comprehensive global analysis of how mothers and motherhood are represented across contemporary screen industries and digital platforms.
The Routledge Handbook of Motherhood on Screen is the first of its kind to bring together international research on the subject. Featuring 33 chapters from 41 contributors from across the globe, the handbook explores portrayals of motherhood across film, television, animation, streaming platforms and even digital influencer culture. The project, which took nearly three years to complete offers a wide-ranging and ground-breaking contribution to screen studies, gender studies and digital culture.
Dr Flynn and Dr Liddy co-wrote the introduction, while Dr Liddy also authored Chapter 11, ‘Representations of Later Motherhood in Irish Film’. The chapter examines two contemporary Irish films—A Bump Along the Way (2019) and Joyride (2022)—that focus on motherhood at the age of 40. Through textual analysis and interviews with the films’ female writers and directors, it explores how these stories challenge stereotypical portrayals of Irish motherhood, ageing and female sexuality in cinema.
Speaking about the publication, Dr Deirdre Flynn said: “We have 41 contributors from across the globe, Ireland to India, discussing streaming, film, TV and even mom-fluencers. This is a comprehensive study of mothers and motherhood on screen which offers important insight into the topic with chapters discussing fertility, menopause, queer families, alternative motherhoods, porn, and scrutinises different cultural notions of 'good' and 'bad' mothering on screens.
Working with my co-editor Susan has been a real joy - she brings a wealth of experience from the screen industries which brought a holistic perspective to the whole project."
Dr Susan Liddy added: “A fascination with how motherhood is represented on screen and the extent to which that has changed over time and differs across the world started Deirdre and I on a journey of discovery. We realised very quickly that this was a subject of huge interest to researchers in every corner of the globe as we were inundated with abstracts, many of which we simply couldn’t include. What we initially thought would be a single volume morphed into a definitive handbook on the subject and we were immersed in this world for nearly three years. Thankfully, Deirdre’s professionalism is matched by a good sense of humour which helped to keep us grounded and focused on the finish line!”
Dr Flynn is also an inaugural member of the Young Academy Ireland at the Royal Irish Academy and coordinates both the BA in English and Drama and the MA in Modern English Literature at MIC. Dr Liddy is the MIC Faculty of Arts Lead in Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Interculturalism (EDII), the Chair of Women in Film and Television Ireland, President of its international network and Director of the Catalyst International Film Festival in Limerick.
This major international publication shows MIC’S growing involvement in important conversations about gender, media and culture.
