Maternalism (Noun)
Meaning 1
Motherly care; behavior characteristic of a mother; the practice of acting as a mother does toward her children.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- The social worker's maternalism helped the young girl feel safe and comforted in the foster home.
- Her maternalism was evident in the way she cared for her younger siblings, always putting their needs before her own.
- The company's new family leave policy was criticized for promoting maternalism, assuming that all women would take on caregiving roles.
- The nurse's maternalism put her patients at ease, as she tended to their needs with kindness and compassion.
- The politician's opponents accused her of paternalism, but her supporters saw her maternalism as a strength, particularly in her advocacy for children's welfare programs.
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
The quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother; "the girl's motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children".
Classification
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects.
Examples
- The nurse's maternalism helped to calm the frightened child and reassure her that everything would be okay.
- Her maternalism was evident in the way she cared for her younger siblings, always putting their needs before her own.
- The teacher's maternalism made her a favorite among her students, who appreciated her kindness and understanding.
- The politician's maternalism was seen as a strength by many voters, who felt that she would be a caring and compassionate leader.
- The charity's maternalism was reflected in its mission to provide support and care to vulnerable mothers and children around the world.