This master's thesis examines motherhood regret as a socially stigmatized and often silenced phenomenon in the context of Slovenian society. The aim is to investigate the ways in which society forces women into motherhood, why mothers regret motherhood, and why women who question motherhood are perceived as a threat to the social order – whereby cultural norms, social pressures, and idealized images of motherhood influence the experience of motherhood. The research is based on a qualitative method, using semi-structured narrative interviews with three Slovenian mothers. Special emphasis is placed on the distinction between motherhood as a social role and motherhood as a relationship. Motherhood is not approached as a universal experience, but rather as part of a spectrum of human experiences, in which mothers often encounter negative emotions.
The findings show that regret over motherhood, contrary to societal beliefs, is often not linked to regretting one’s children, but rather to regretting the maternal role itself, along with the structure and conditions within which motherhood takes place. Testimonies reveal regret about motherhood in connection with the gap between idealized representations of motherhood and lived experiences, loss of freedom, unfulfilled potential, and the absence of (partner) support in a patriarchal society that frames motherhood as a natural, fulfilling role for every woman – while alternative life paths remain unspoken.
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