Reading Emma Van Ness I couldn’t help thinking of Lila and Elena on the Dr. Phil show confronting their mothers on how poorly they were raised. They complain that they were raised in a poor Neapolitan rione with only a roof over their heads, food on the table and cloths on their backs. Then imagine if you will that they are raised in a time of economic boom, education possibility, free to read any books or newspapers they want, view any films and to be aspired by women to become anything they want.

Then imagine if you will their mothers Mrs. Cerullo and Mrs.Greco and how they were raised in a fascist Italian State where both fascist and catholic ideology were taught in school. Where poverty was common place and working to help the family put food on the table trumped getting an education. Where books, newspapers, films and TV was controlled by the state. Where surviving and experiencing the tragedies of war would mark them forever. Who could these women look up to for inspiration? Their vision and aspirations took them no farther than their village or their neighbors.

Van Ness’s Dixit Mater is complex and deep citing psychoanalysis and semiotician from Freud and Nietzsche. We could dwell in the weeds for ever in the complexity of motherhood. I would like to simplify it to “where the rubber meets the road” it maybe a simplistic way of looking at motherhood but I think every generation does the best they can with the knowledge that has been passed down to them.