Table Talk: A Philosopher's View on Motherhood, Money-Making, and Our Worth

Women today are given two competing messages about our worthiness in the world: One, worthiness comes from being a personal mother or caregiver, and two, worthiness comes from professional success, earning power, and social contribution. It can feel impossible to fulfill both roles, let alone do them both well. Drawing upon her training and experience as a mother, a Ph.D. in philosophy, a survivor of postpartum psychosis, and a long-time practitioner of Buddhist meditation, Danielle wants to offer an alternative source of worthiness that has nothing to do with how well we fulfill our roles and everything to do with our existence itself.

As a philosopher, Danielle had lived comfortably in her professional world of the mind—that is, until she had a baby and she was yanked down into the messy, unpredictable, domestic world of the body. It was a rough transition, marked by wild emotions, intense grief, and an utter crisis of identity. In a society that rewards intellectual work, professional achievements, and earning money, while dismissing or even denigrating the daily, domestic work of caring for human beings, so many mothers and caregivers continuously struggle to feel self-worth and to navigate this dual sense of self—the mind and the body, the public and the private. In this talk, Danielle will offer ways not just to "balance" these parts of ourselves, but to actually integrate them, so we can notice, affirm, and value the unique wisdom that caregiving provides. As a deeply philosophical experience, motherhood is not just something that detracts from our public life; it contributes to it, making us wiser humans and better community members.

Dr. LaSusa has given Ted Talks on the philosphy of motherhood (watch it here) and is currently writing her memoirs. You wont want to miss out on this!