本研究透過認知社會學的取徑，重新檢視與探討這些社會建構的母職想像，同時探究母親獨特的視角並如何實作、甚至發揮其能動性。研究方法採取論述分析法，以衛生福利部所發放的具體文宣、批踢踢媽寶板討論文章為文本，檢視其中的指引或規範背後所隱含的母職期待；並且透過訪談，進一步分析在臺灣社會脈絡之下，作為母親的思考視角和帶來的影響。
研究結果重新勾勒出社會中對於「做媽媽」的深刻期待，與觀察和訪談到的實際母職做法相互對應，強調現代母職所具備的能動性，也彰顯這些社會期待的諸多預設所帶來的壓力或侷限。同時，本研究亦期待藉由刻劃出不同分類的母職實作分類，提醒讀者現代「做媽媽」模式的多元性，是如同光譜、擁有彈性的存在；並且藉由詮釋母親們不同的認知框架與劃界方式，探討女性同時作為母親，面對其多元角色經營的策略。
The discourse of "maternal instinct" is a familiar one, portraying women as the primary caregivers of children. However, many scholars in the past have highlighted that the anticipation women "must" become mothers and "must" wholeheartedly devote themselves to mothering is, in fact, socially constructed. These constructions are shaped by societal, cultural, and even political factors, which have established a comprehensive set of ostensibly "good" mothering practices and cultural norms. This, in turn, further molds the optics of "doing mother".
Adopting cognitive sociological approach, this study reevaluates and delves into the socially constructed maternal ideals. Furthermore, it explores the distinctive perspectives of mothers and how they put these ideals into practice, showcasing their agency in the process. Employing discourse analysis as the research methodology, this study examines official materials issued by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, alongside discussions on the online platform "PTT Mommy Board." By doing so, it unveils the implicit motherhood expectations and norms embedded within these sources. In-depth interviews are furthermore conducted to provide a deeper analysis of maternal viewpoints and their implications within the social context of Taiwanese society.
The study's findings redefine the profound societal expectations of "doing mother". The result echoes with the observed and interviewed mothering behaviors, underscoring the agency in modern motherhood, and unveiling the stress and constraints resulted from societal expectations. This research aims to categorize various mothering practices, thereby prompting readers to recognize its diversity in modern "doing mother" model—rather a spectrum with flexibility. Moreover, through interpreting the diverse cognitive frameworks and boundary mechanisms of mothers, this study explores the strategies women adopt as they navigate their multifaceted roles as mothers.
