The barriers erected by patriarchal, racist, classist and homophobic knowledge between mothers and daughters are explored. Women's writing is used to explore the existing and potential connection and cooperation between mothers and daughters, emphasising the importance of social context for an understanding of mother-daughter relationships.

This book offers a review and a feminist critique of mother-daughter literature. The barriers erected by patriarchal, racist, classist and homophobic knowledge between mothers and daughters are explored. Women's writing is used to explore the existing and potential connection and cooperation between mothers and daughters, emphasising the importance of social context for an understanding of mother-daughter relationships. Motherhood is emphasised as a developmental process.