Reconceptualizing Dreamwork (With Apologies yo Lewis Carroll’s "Alice") as a Facet of Motherwork

Adie Nelson; Veronica B. Nelson

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.6.2.03

Authors

Adie Nelson University of Waterloo, Canada
Veronica B. Nelson University of Waterloo, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.6.2.03

Keywords:

Dreamwork, Parenting, Motherwork, Mothering, Socialization

Abstract

While acknowledging some of the myriad ways in which the term "dreamwork" has been used by scholars over the past century, this article directs especial attention to dreamwork as both a facet of motherwork and form of anticipatory socialization. This particular conception views dreamwork as an interpersonal accomplishment and emphasizes its collaborative character. In arguing for its utility, we note how this conception of dreamwork complements insights found in other works and suggest how these ideas might be related, and future research on parental involvement in the lives of children strengthened, by gathering them together under the concept of dreamwork.

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Author Biographies

Adie Nelson, University of Waterloo, Canada

Adie Nelson is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Waterloo. She received her Ph.D. from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her areas of specialization are gender, sexuality and deviance. Her work has appeared in journals such as The British Journal of Sociology, the Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, Qualitative Sociology and Psychology of Women Quarterly; she is the author, co-author or editor of approximately two dozen books.

Veronica B. Nelson, University of Waterloo, Canada

Veronica B. Nelson is completing an Honours Biomedical Science degree at the University of Waterloo and plans to pursue a career in medicine. Her first publication occurred at age 11, when she won the Canadian National Poetry Contest for young poets.

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