Blaming Mothers

This sharp legal analysis dissects how American mothers face disproportionate blame for children's health outcomes despite living in an era of unprecedented child wellness. Fentiman systematically examines how medical institutions, media narratives, and cultural assumptions converge to position mothers as primary health risks to their children. The book reveals how psychological processes and risk perception biases shape legal decision-making in ways that penalize maternal behavior. Through compelling case studies and legal analysis, it exposes the systemic mechanisms that transform ordinary parenting decisions into potential legal liabilities.

What distinguishes this work is its unflinching look at how unconscious biases infiltrate courtrooms and policy decisions, creating a legal landscape where mothers bear disproportionate responsibility. Readers interested in family law, gender studies, and social justice will find particularly valuable insights into how risk assessment becomes gendered in legal contexts. Fentiman's research provides crucial perspective for anyone concerned about the intersection of parenting, psychology, and the legal system's treatment of mothers. The book ultimately challenges readers to reconsider fundamental assumptions about responsibility, risk, and the invisible forces shaping family law.