Negotiating good motherhood: Lived experiences of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder in China

Understanding how mothers negotiate the expectations of good motherhood ideology is vital for supporting mothers of children with ASD. This paper explored how Chinese mothers of children with ASD constructed the concept of good motherhood, and how this construct was formed, resisted and negotiated in the reality of caregiving. In-depth interviews were conducted with 21 mothers, revealing three major themes: (1) negotiating the role expectation of a super mother; (2) negotiating the emotional expectation of a rational mother; and (3) negotiating the moral expectation of a selfless mother. Findings indicate that when caring for children with ASD, mothers were expected to assume multiple roles responsibilities, perform emotion work and sacrifice their own needs to become good mothers. Instead of simply conforming to the good motherhood ideology, mothers employed various strategies to reflect on and even resist these expectations. Through these efforts, mothers actively constructed their own perceptions of good mothering based on their individual experiences, contributing to diverse knowledge of motherhood. The findings underscore the importance of future support services to acknowledge the agency of mothers of children with ASD and utilize empowering approaches to accommodate their comprehensive needs. •Mothers of children with ASD were expected to play multiple roles, manage negative emotions and sacrifice their own needs.•Mothers employed various strategies to reflect on and even resist the expectations of good motherhood.•Mothers actively constructed their own perceptions of good mothering based on their individual experiences.•Mothers from low-income families or those with limited family support are more vulnerable.•This study contributes to a more diverse understanding of maternal experiences in the context of ASD.