Maverick Mother (ATOM Study Guide)

Solo motherhood is now on the verge of becoming chic in the west, a sign of ultimate reproductive independence for women. This documentary taps into a very current and contentious debate about many women's inability to find a suitable and willing male partner with whom they can have children. The film interrogates the nature of 'family' in contemporary western society and contemplates the past, present and future concepts of solo motherhood, and the attitudes of women who, rather than being 'left on the shelf' by men because they are too smart, too funny, too 'ugly', too talented or too independent, embrace their own sexuality and fertility to immerse themselves in life's greatest love and greatest challenge.