Abstract

NOGUEIRA, Paula Cristina  and  COSTA, Liana Fortunato. Social mother: profession? motherhood role?. Estilos clin. [online]. 2005, vol.10, n.19, pp. 162-181. ISSN 1415-7128.

This article intends to deepen the reflections on the reality of children who live in orphanages, trying to understand the role of the adult who takes care of the child in this context. The research was developed in an institution which receives children from zero to three years old. It was possible to observe that the high number of children under the care of one social mother makes it impossible for the social mother to interact in a healthy and positive way with each child, individually. We observed that the social mother puts a lot of limits to the movements of the children, who must stay on the sofa, watching TV, waiting for the next activity, always imposed by the routine of the institution.

Keywords : Social mother; Shelter; Institutionalized child; Mother-baby relationship.