aoreilly


Andrea O'Reilly

Photo of Andrea O'Reilly

School of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies

Professor

Office: Founders College, 223
Phone: 416-650-8144
Email: aoreilly@yorku.ca

Attached CV

Media Requests Welcome
Accepting New Graduate Students


Dr. Andrea O’Reilly is internationally recognized as the founder of Motherhood Studies (2006) and its subfield Maternal Theory (2007), and creator of Matricentric Feminism, a feminism for and about mothers (2016) and Matricritics, a literary theory and practice for a reading of mother-focused texts (2021). She is full professor in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at York University, founder/editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Motherhood Initiative and publisher of Demeter Press. She is co-editor/editor of thirty plus books on many motherhood topics including: Maternal Theory, Feminist Mothering, Young Mothers, Monstrous Mothers, Maternal Regret, Normative Motherhood, Mothers and Sons, Mothers and Daughters, Maternal Texts. She is author of three monographs including most recently Matricentric Feminism: Theory Activism, Practice, the 2nd Edition (2021). In spring 2024 a collection of her essays, In (M)otherwords; Writings on Mothering and Motherhood, 2009-2024, was published and in fall 2024 her next edited book, The Mother Wave: Theorizing, Enacting, and Representing Matricentric Feminism will be published. She is currently completing her monograph Matricritics as Literary Theory and Criticism: Reading the Maternal in Post-2010 Women’s Narratives. She is twice the recipient of York University’s “Professor of the Year Award” for teaching excellence and is the 2019 recipient of the Status of Women and Equity Award of Distinction from OCUFA (Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations). She has received more than 1.5 million dollars in funding for her research projects including her current one on Millennial Mothers.

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SOLE-AUTHORED BOOKS:
In (M)other Words; Writings on Mothering and Motherhood, 2009-2024. Demeter Press, 2024, 536 pages.

Matricentric Feminism: Theory, Activism, Practice, The 2nd Edition. Demeter Press, 2021: 285 pages.

Matricentric Feminism: Theory, Activism, Practice. Demeter Press, 2016: 262 pages.

Rocking the Cradle: Thoughts on Motherhood, Feminism and The Possibility of Empowered Mothering. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2006: 206 pages.

Toni Morrison and Motherhood: A Politics of the Heart. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004: 229 pages.

EDITED BOOKS:

Care(ful) Relationships between Mother and the Caregivers they Hire. With Katie B. Garner. Demeter Press, 2024, 355 pages.

Normative Motherhood: Regulations, Representations, and Reclamations. Demeter Press, 2023, 305 pages.

Coming into Being: Mothers on Finding and Realizing Feminism. with Fiona Joy Green and Victoria Bailey, Demeter Press, 2023, 368 pages.

Maternal Regret: Resistances, Renunciations, and Reflections. Demeter Press 2022, 257 pages.

Monstrous Mothers: Troubling Tropes. With Abigail Palko. Demeter Press, 2021: 300 pages.

Maternal Theory: The Essential Readings, 2nd Edition. Demeter Press, 2021: 936 pages.

Mothers, Mothering and Covid-19: Dispatches from a Pandemic. With Fiona Joy Green. Demeter Press, 2021: 540 pages.

Feminist Parenting: Perspectives from Africa and Beyond. With Rama Salla Dieng. Demeter Press. 2020; 360 pages.

Routledge Companion to Motherhood. With Lynn Hallstein O’Brien and Melinda Giles
Vandenbeld. Routledge Press, 2019; 334 pages.

Feminist Perspectives on Young Mothers and Young Mothering. With Joanne Minaker and Deborah Byrd. Demeter Press, 2019: 233 pages.

This is What a Feminist Slut Looks Like: Perspectives on the SlutWalk Movement. Demeter Press, 2015: 280 pages.

Mothers, Mothering and Motherhood Across Cultural Difference: Demeter Press, 2014: 513 pages.

What Do Mothers Need? Motherhood Activists and Scholars Speak Out on Maternal Empowerment for the 21st Century: Demeter Press, 2012: 372 pages.

Academic Motherhood in a Post Second Wave Context: Challenges, Strategies, Possibilities. With Lynn Hallstein O’Brien., 2012: 468 pages.

The 21st Century Motherhood Movement: Mothers Speak out on Why We Need to Change the World and How to Do It. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2011: 957 pages.

21st Century Motherhood: Experience, Identity, Policy, Agency. Columbia University Press, 2010: 384 pages.

Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Literatures. With Elizabeth Podnieks. Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010: 418 pages.

From the Personal to Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. With Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Susquehanna University Press, 2009: 264 pages.

Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics, Practice. Demeter Press, 2009: 274 pages.

Feminist Mothering. SUNY Press, 2008: 287 pages.

Maternal Theory: Essential Readings. Demeter Press, 2007: 846 pages.

You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University. With Ruby Newman. School of Women’s Studies, York University, 2006: 215 pages.

Motherhood: Power and Oppression. With Marie Porter and Patricia Short. Women’s Press, 2005: 300 pages.

Mother Matters: Motherhood as Discourse and Practice. ARM Press, 2004: 257 pages.

Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering: Women’s Press, 2004: 441 pages.

From Motherhood to Mothering: The Legacy of Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born. SUNY Press, 2004: 251 pages.

Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise our Sons. Routledge Press, 2001: 280 pages.

Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment and Transformation. With Sharon Abbey. Rowman & Littlefield, 2000: 302 pages.

Redefining Motherhood: Changing Identities and Patterns. With Sharon Abbey. Second Story Press, 1998: 339 pages.

Degrees

Ph.D., English, York University
M.A., English, York University
B.A., English and Women's Studies, York University

Professional Leadership

Founder and director of the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement; 1997-2020; In 2020 MIRCI transitioned to a new motherhood organization, IAMAS. Currently serve as a board member of IAMAS

Founder and editor-in-chief, Journal of the Motherhood Initiative. 1999-; 50 issues published: https://journalofmotherhoodinitiative.org/

Founder and publisher of Demeter Press; 2006- with 180 titles published. www.demeterpress.org

Research Interests

Women , Family, Motherhood, Gender issues, Mothers in Popular Culture, Women's Studies

Current Research Projects


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    Funders:
    Aid to Research Workshop (York University)
Mother Centres, Feminist Pedagogy, and Young Motherhood: Creating Empowerment Programming for Young Mothers

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    Funders:
    IOF (International Opportunities Fund) (SSHRC)

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    Funders:
    Minor Research Grant (York University)

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    Funders:
    Specific Research Grant(Non Leave) (York University)
Being a Mother in Academia

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    Funders:
    SSHRC Standard Research Grant
Maternal Health and Well-being

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    Funders:
    Workshops and Conference (SSHRC)

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    Funders:
    Specific Research Grant(Non Leave) (York University)

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    Funders:
    Minor Research Grant (York University)
Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering

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    Funders:
    Research and Transfer Journals (SSHRC)
Grandmothers and Grandmothering Conference

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    Funders:
    Workshops and Conference (SSHRC)
Books

Publication
Year

O'Reilly, A. Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Literatures. With Elizabeth Podnieks. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010; 418 pages.

2010

O'Reilly, A. From the Personal to Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. With Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Selinsgrove, PA: Susquehanna University Press, 2009; 264 pages.

2009

“Maternal Authority and Social Acceptability of Children; Feminist Mothering as Maternal Practice” Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics, Practice. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009; 217-229.

2009

O'Reilly A. Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics, Practice. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009; 274 pages.

2009

O'Reilly A. Feminist Mothering. Albany: SUNY Press, 2008; 287 pages.

2008

O'Reilly, A. Maternal Theory: Essential Readings. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2007; 846 pages.

2007

O'Reilly, A. Rocking the Cradle: Thoughts on Motherhood, Feminism and The Possibility of Empowered Mothering. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2006: 206 pages.

2006

O'Reilly, A. *You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University. With Ruby Newman. Toronto: School of Women’s Studies, York University, 2006; 215 pages.

2006

O'Reilly, A. Motherhood: Power and Oppression. With Marie Porter and Patricia Short. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2005; 300 pages.

2005

O'Reilly, A. Toni Morrison and Motherhood: A Politics of the Heart. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004.

2004

O'Reilly, A. From Motherhood to Mothering: The Legacy of Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004; 251 pages.

2004

O'Reilly, A. Mother Matters: Motherhood as Discourse and Practice. Toronto: ARM Press, 2004; 257 pages.

2004

O'Reilly, A. Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004; 441 pages.

2004

O'Reilly, A. Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise our Sons. New York: Routledge Press, 2001; 280 pages.

2001

O'Reilly, A. Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment and Transformation. With Sharon Abbey. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000; 302 pages.

2000

O'Reilly, A. Redefining Motherhood: Changing Identities and Patterns. With Sharon Abbey. Toronto: Second Story Press, 1998; 339 pages.

1998

Book Chapters

Publication
Year

“Biting the Hand that Feeds You: New Momism and the Motherhood Memoir.” Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Texts: Representations of Mothering in Twentieth- and Twenty-First Century Literature. Eds. Elizabeth Podnieks and Andrea O’Reilly. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010, (Reprint); 201-212.

2010

“Coda: ‘Stories to Live By’: Maternal Literatures and Motherhood Studies.” Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Literatures. Eds. Elizabeth Podnieks and Andrea O’Reilly. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010; 365-370.

2010

“Introduction.” (with Liz Podnieks) Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Literatures Textual Mothers. Eds. Elizabeth Podnieks and Andrea O’Reilly. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010; 1-28.

2010

O'Reilly, A. “Introduction.” From the Personal to the Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. With Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Susquehanna University Press, 2009.

2009

“A Conversation with Sara Ruddick.” Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009; 14-38.

2009

O'Reilly, A. “Biting the Hand that Feeds You: New Momism and the Motherhood Memoir.” From the Personal to the Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. With Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Susquehanna University Press, 2009.

2009

“Foreword, ‘Everyday Acts’: The Politic, Praxis and Pedagogy of Feminist Mothering.” Feminist Mothering in Theory and Practice, 1985-1995: A Study in Transformative Politics. Fiona Green, Mellen Press, (Invited), 2009; pp. i-vi.

2009

“Introduction.” Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics, Practice. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009; 1-13.

2009

O'Reilly, A. “Outlaw(ing) Motherhood: A Theory and Politic of Maternal Empowerment for the 21st Century.” Motherhood at the 21st Century: Identity, Experience, Agency, Policy, Columbia University Press, 2009.

2009

“The Motherhood Memoir and the ‘New Momism’: Biting the Hand that Feeds You.” From the Personal to the Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly and Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Susquehanna University Press, 2009; 238-248.

2009

“Introduction.” Feminist Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Albany: SUNY Press, 2008.

2008

O'Reilly, A. “‘That is what feminism is: the acting and living, not just the told’: Modeling and Mentoring Feminism.” Feminist Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Albany: SUNY Press, 2008, pp. 191-202.

2008

“Feminist Mothering.” Maternal Theory: Essential Readings. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2007, pp. 792-822.

2007

“Introduction.” Maternal Theory: Essential Readings. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2007, pp. 1-6.

2007

O'Reilly, A. “You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University.” Educating Women Conference, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia,February 2007.

2006

O'Reilly, A. “Feminist Theory on Mothers and Sons.” Women’s World Today International Conference: Tromso, Norway, July 1999.

2006

“(Mis)Conceptions: Reproductive Power and Loss in the Fiction of Toni Morrison.” Motherhood: Power and Oppression. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly, Marie Porter and Patricia Short. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2005, pp.125-136.

2005

O'Reilly, A. “Feminist Perspectives on Mothering: Power and Oppression.” Gendered Intersections: An Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies. Eds. Lesley Biggs and Pamela Down. Halifax:Fernwood Publishing, 2005.

2005

O'Reilly, A. “Forward.” Parenting and Professing: Balancing Family Work with an Academic Career. Ed. Rachel Hile-Basett. Nashville: University of Vanderbilt Press, 2005, pp. xii-xvii.

2005

“Introduction.” Motherhood: Power and Oppression. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly, Marie Porter and Patricia Short. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2005, pp. 1-22.

2005

“A Politics of the Heart: African American Womanist Thought on Mothering.” Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp. 171-192. (Reprint)

2004

“Across the Divide: Contemporary Anglo-American Feminist Theory on The Mother-Daughter Relationship.” Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp. 243-262. (Reprint)

2004

O'Reilly, A. “‘Ain’t That Love?’: Anti-Racism and Racial Constructions of Motherhood.” Introduction to Ethnic Studies. Eds. Brina Baker et al. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2004,pp.181-188. (Reprint)

2004

“Introduction.” From Motherhood to Mothering: The Legacy of Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004, pp.1-23.

2004

“Introduction.” Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp. 1-28.

2004

“Introduction.” Mother Matters: Motherhood as Discourse and Practice. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: ARM Press, 2004, pp. 11-26.

2004

“Labour Signs: The Semiotics of Birthing.” Mother Matters: Motherhood as Discourse and Practice. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: ARM Press, 2004, pp. 29-36. (Reprint)

2004

“Mothering Against Motherhood and the Possibility of Empowered Maternity for Mothers and their Children.” From Motherhood to Mothering: The Legacy of Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004, pp.159-174.

2004

“Mothering Against Motherhood and the Possibility of Empowered Mothering.” Mother Outlaws:Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press,2004, pp. 59-74. (Reprint)

2004

“Mothers, Daughters, and Feminism Today: Empowerment, Agency, Narrative and Motherline.” Feminisms and Womanisms: Foundations, Theories and Praxis. Eds. Althea Prince and Susan-Silva Wayne. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp. 207-214. (Reprint)

2004

“‘We were conspirators, outlaws from the institution of motherhood’: Mothering Against Motherhood and the Possibility of Empowered Mothering.” Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp.59- 75. (Reprint)

2004

O'Reilly, A. “Writing out of the Margins: Maternity, Marginality and the Emergence of a Maternal Kuntersromanne.” Preface to Portrait of an Artist as a Mother. Ed. Nancy Gerber. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2003, pp. ix-xiv.

2003

“Introduction.” Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise our Sons. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. New York: Routledge Press, 2001, pp. 1-21.

2002

O'Reilly, A. “What’s A Girl Like You Doing in a Nice Place Like This?: Being a Mother in the Academe.” Women in the Canadian Academic Tundra: Trials and Tribulations. Ed. Elana Hannah. Kingston: Queen’s University Press, 2002.

2002

“In Black and White: African American and Anglo-American Feminist Perspectives on the Mother-Son Relationship.” Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise our Sons. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. New York: Routledge Press, 2001, pp. 91-118.

2001

“‘I come from a long line of uppity irate black women’: African American Feminism on Motherhood.” Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment and Transformation. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly and Sharon Abbey. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000, pp. 143-159.

2000

“Introduction” (with Sharon Abbey). Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment and Transformation. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly and Sharon Abbey. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000, pp. 1-18.

2000

“Mothers, Daughters, and Feminism Today: Empowerment, Agency, Narrative and Motherline.” Canadian Woman Studies: An Introductory Reader. Eds. Nuzhat Amin et al. Toronto: Inanna Publications, 1999, pp. 495-504. (reprint)

1999

O'Reilly, A. Review Essay on Black Women. Reader's Guide to Women's Studies. Ed. Eleanor Amico. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 1998, pp. 78-79.

1998

"‘Ain't that love?’: Anti-Racism and Racial Constructions of Motherhood.” Everyday Acts Against Racism: Raising Children in a Multiracial World. Ed. Maureen Reddy. Seattle, Washington: Seal Press, 1996, pp. 88-98.

1996

O'Reilly, A. “Talking Back in Mother Tongue: A Feminist Course on Mothering-Motherhood.” Feminism and Education. Vol. 2. Ed. Paula T. Bourne. Toronto: Canadian Women's Studies Educational Press,1994, pp. 221-241.

1994

O'Reilly, A. “‘Ain't I a mother?’: Motherhood and Mother-Daughter Relationships in Toni Morrison's Beloved.” AFRAM Newsletter: Special Issue on Toni Morrison's Beloved. (October 1993) , pp. 67-76.

1993

Journal Articles

Publication
Year

O'Reilly, A. “Reading Sara Ruddick’s Maternal Thinking.” Women’s Studies Quarterly; Special Issue on Motherhood. Fall/Winter 2009, (accepted).

2009

O'Reilly, A. “‘I discovered more than book knowledge’: York University’s Bridging Program for Women.” Atlantis. Vol, 33.2 (Winter 2009) 43-52.

2009

“‘I envision a future in which maternal thinkers are respected and self-respecting’: The Legacy of Sara Ruddick’s Maternal Thinking.” Women’s Studies Quarterly 37: 3 & 4 (Fall/Winter 2009); 291-294.

2009

O'Reilly, A. “Between the Baby and the Bathwater: Some Thoughts on a Mother-Centred Theory and Practice of Feminist Mothering.” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering 8.1 & 8.2 (Summer 2006), pp. 323-330.

2006

“Labour Signs: The Semiotics of Birthing.” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering, 3.1. (Spring/Summer 2001) , pp. 216-223.

2004

O'Reilly, A. “A Mom and her Son: Feminist Thoughts on Mothering.” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering, 2.1 (Spring/Summer 2001), pp. 179-193.

2001

O'Reilly, A. “Maternal Resistance and Redemption in Toni Morrison’s Paradise.” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering, 1.1 (Spring/Summer 1999), pp. 187-195.

1999

O, Reilly, A.“Mothers, Daughters, and Feminism Today: Empowerment, Agency, Narrative and Motherline.” Canadian Woman Studies. 2 & 3 (Summer/Fall 1998), pp. 16-21.

1998

O'Reilly, A. “‘In search of my mother's garden, I found my own’: Mother-love, Healing, and Identity in Toni Morrison's Jazz.” African American Review. (Fall 1996) , pp. 367-378.

1996

“‘Ain't I a mother?’: Motherhood and Mother-Daughter Relationships in Toni Morrison's Beloved.” AFRAM Newsletter: Special Issue on Toni Morrison's Beloved. (October 1993) , pp. 67-76.

1993

O'Reilly, A. “Geography and Symbolism in Wuthering Heights” (with Prof. Simpson-Housley). The Bronte Society Transactions. (Winter 1990)

1990

O'Reilly, A. “Conceived in a Lesbian Embrace, Born From the Body: These Our Mothers as A Mother's Becoming in the Wor(l)d.” Rampike. 10.1 (Winter 1989).

1989

“Feminizing Feminism: Constance Beresford-Howe and the Quest for Female Freedom.” Canadian Woman Studies. 8.3 (Fall 1987), pp. 69-72.

1987

Conference Papers

Publication
Year

“Sara Ruddick’s Maternal Thinking.” The Mother Symposium, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, February 26, 2010.

2010

O'Reilly, A. “Cross Cultural Perspectives on Motherhood” “Motherhood and the Family.” Aboriginal Health & Wellness Conference, British Columbia, February 2008.

2008

O'Reilly, A. “I’m gonna show you that I’m good and I can do the work, but you’re gonna get this whole package deal”: The Maternal Wall and Strategies of Resistance in the Academe.” Women’s Worlds Conference, Madrid Spain, July 2008.

2008

O'Reilly, A. “‘The most liberating thing that ever happened to me’: Modernity, Motherhood, and Morrison’s ‘Politics of the Heart’.” 4th Bi-Annual Toni Morrison Conference, Charleston, South Carolina, July 2008.

2008

O'Reilly, A. “From the Personal to the Political: Towards a New Reading of the Maternal Narrative.” Performing Feminist Motherhood, ARM and Mamapalooza Conference, New York, New York, 2008.

2008

“‘A Rooms of One’s Own’: The Emergence of Motherhood Studies.” International Motherhood Summit: From a Motherless Society to the Symbolic Order of the Mother, Karlsruhe, Germany, June 2008.

2008

“Being a Mother in Academe.” Congress. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 2007.

2007

“Troubling Maternity: Transgressive Motherhood in Cherri Moraga’s Waiting in the Wings: a portrait of queer motherhood.” Inkanationas Conference on Latin American Studies, Lima, Peru, August 2007.

2007

“Worth it in the End: the Risks and Rewards of Feminist Mothering.” Congress. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 2007.

2007

“Worth it in the End: the Risks and Rewards of Feminist Mothering.” Gender and Generations Conference, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, March 2007.

2007

“You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University.” Educating Women Conference, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, February 2007.

2007

“You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University.” Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, Hawaii, January 2007.

2007

“The Motherhood Memoir and the ‘New Momism’: Biting the Hand that Feeds You.” Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, Hawaii, January 2007; University Of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, December 2006; Association for Research on Mothering 10th Annual Conference, Toronto, Ontario, October 2006.

“Feminist Mothering and the Motherhood Memoir.” University of Northern Cyprus, Famagusta, Northern Cyprus, April 2006.

2006

“York University’s Bridging Program for Women.” University of Northern Cyprus, Famagusta, Northern Cyprus, April 2006.

2006

“Feminist Mothering of Daughters.” Gendering Transformations: University of Crete, Rethimno, Greece, May 2005.

2005

“Feminist Mothering: Possibilities and Challenges.” Feminisms: Within and Without: University of Galway, Galway, Ireland, July 2005.

2005

“From Motherhood to Mothering: Feminist Theory on Motherhood.” Humanities Association International Annual Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, January 2004.

2004

“From Motherhood to Mothering: The Possibility of Empowered Maternity.” Association for Research on Mothering conference Motherhood and Feminism: York University, Toronto, Ontario, October 2004.

2004

“Mother Outlaws: Reflections On Empowered Mothering.” LEARNEDS: Winnipeg Manitoba, May 2004.

2004

“Roundtable on Mothers in Academia.” National Women’s Studies Conference, Orlando, Florida, June 2004.

2004

“From Patriarchal Motherhood to Feminist Mothering.” National Women’s Studies Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 2003.

2003

“Unmasking Motherhood: A Critique of the Discourse Of Intensive Mothering.” Mothering and Work: Association for Research on Mothering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, May 2003.

2003

“Dispatches from the Motherline.” Mothering and Teaching in the Academe: Association for Research on Mothering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, May 2002.

2002

“Politics of the Heart: Toni Morrison on Motherhood.” Cross Routes; International Conference on African American Literature: Sardinia, Italy, March 2001.

2001

“Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise Our Sons.” Twelfth Annual Conference on Men and Masculinity: Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 2000.

2000

“Maternal Redemption and Resistance in Toni Morrison’s Paradise.” Second Bi-annual Conference of the Toni Morrison Society: ‘Meanings of Home’: Loraine, Ohio, September 2000.

2000

“Toni Morrison on Motherhood.” Mothering in the African Diaspora Conference: York University: Toronto, Ontario, February 2000.

2000

Public Lectures

Publication
Year

O'Reilly, A. “‘A Rooms of One’s Own’: The Emergence of Motherhood Studies.” International Motherhood Summit: From a Motherless Society to the Symbolic Order of the Mother, Karlsruhe, Germany, June 2008.

2008

Forthcoming

Publication
Year

Being and Thinking as an Academic Mother: Theory and Narrative. With Linn O’Brien Hallstein. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2011, (Under Contract).

2011

O'Reilly, A. 21st Century Motherhood: Experience, Identity, Policy, Agency. Columbia University Press, 2010, (in press, May); 384 pages.

2010

O'Reilly, A. The Palin Factor: Political Mothers and Public Motherhood in the 21st Century. With Deirdre Condit. Demeter Press, 2010, (Under Contract).

2010

O'Reilly, A. *You Say You Want a Revolution: The Motherhood Movement of the 21st Century. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2010, (in press, July).

2010

O'Reilly, A. 20th Anniversary of Sara Ruddick’s Maternal Thinking. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009, (Under Contract).

2009

O;Reilly, A. “Introduction.” Motherhood at the 21st Century: Identity, Experience, Policy, Agency. Columbia University Press, 2009.

2009



Upcoming Courses

Term Course Number Section Title Type
Fall/Winter 2024 AP/GWST2513 6.0 A Mothering and Motherhood ONLN
Winter 2025 GS/GFWS6214 3.0 M Maternal Theory ONLN


Dr. Andrea O’Reilly is internationally recognized as the founder of Motherhood Studies (2006) and its subfield Maternal Theory (2007), and creator of Matricentric Feminism, a feminism for and about mothers (2016) and Matricritics, a literary theory and practice for a reading of mother-focused texts (2021). She is full professor in the School of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at York University, founder/editor-in-chief of the Journal of the Motherhood Initiative and publisher of Demeter Press. She is co-editor/editor of thirty plus books on many motherhood topics including: Maternal Theory, Feminist Mothering, Young Mothers, Monstrous Mothers, Maternal Regret, Normative Motherhood, Mothers and Sons, Mothers and Daughters, Maternal Texts. She is author of three monographs including most recently Matricentric Feminism: Theory Activism, Practice, the 2nd Edition (2021). In spring 2024 a collection of her essays, In (M)otherwords; Writings on Mothering and Motherhood, 2009-2024, was published and in fall 2024 her next edited book, The Mother Wave: Theorizing, Enacting, and Representing Matricentric Feminism will be published. She is currently completing her monograph Matricritics as Literary Theory and Criticism: Reading the Maternal in Post-2010 Women’s Narratives. She is twice the recipient of York University’s “Professor of the Year Award” for teaching excellence and is the 2019 recipient of the Status of Women and Equity Award of Distinction from OCUFA (Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations). She has received more than 1.5 million dollars in funding for her research projects including her current one on Millennial Mothers.

SOLE-AUTHORED BOOKS:
In (M)other Words; Writings on Mothering and Motherhood, 2009-2024. Demeter Press, 2024, 536 pages.

Matricentric Feminism: Theory, Activism, Practice, The 2nd Edition. Demeter Press, 2021: 285 pages.

Matricentric Feminism: Theory, Activism, Practice. Demeter Press, 2016: 262 pages.

Rocking the Cradle: Thoughts on Motherhood, Feminism and The Possibility of Empowered Mothering. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2006: 206 pages.

Toni Morrison and Motherhood: A Politics of the Heart. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004: 229 pages.

EDITED BOOKS:

Care(ful) Relationships between Mother and the Caregivers they Hire. With Katie B. Garner. Demeter Press, 2024, 355 pages.

Normative Motherhood: Regulations, Representations, and Reclamations. Demeter Press, 2023, 305 pages.

Coming into Being: Mothers on Finding and Realizing Feminism. with Fiona Joy Green and Victoria Bailey, Demeter Press, 2023, 368 pages.

Maternal Regret: Resistances, Renunciations, and Reflections. Demeter Press 2022, 257 pages.

Monstrous Mothers: Troubling Tropes. With Abigail Palko. Demeter Press, 2021: 300 pages.

Maternal Theory: The Essential Readings, 2nd Edition. Demeter Press, 2021: 936 pages.

Mothers, Mothering and Covid-19: Dispatches from a Pandemic. With Fiona Joy Green. Demeter Press, 2021: 540 pages.

Feminist Parenting: Perspectives from Africa and Beyond. With Rama Salla Dieng. Demeter Press. 2020; 360 pages.

Routledge Companion to Motherhood. With Lynn Hallstein O’Brien and Melinda Giles
Vandenbeld. Routledge Press, 2019; 334 pages.

Feminist Perspectives on Young Mothers and Young Mothering. With Joanne Minaker and Deborah Byrd. Demeter Press, 2019: 233 pages.

This is What a Feminist Slut Looks Like: Perspectives on the SlutWalk Movement. Demeter Press, 2015: 280 pages.

Mothers, Mothering and Motherhood Across Cultural Difference: Demeter Press, 2014: 513 pages.

What Do Mothers Need? Motherhood Activists and Scholars Speak Out on Maternal Empowerment for the 21st Century: Demeter Press, 2012: 372 pages.

Academic Motherhood in a Post Second Wave Context: Challenges, Strategies, Possibilities. With Lynn Hallstein O’Brien., 2012: 468 pages.

The 21st Century Motherhood Movement: Mothers Speak out on Why We Need to Change the World and How to Do It. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2011: 957 pages.

21st Century Motherhood: Experience, Identity, Policy, Agency. Columbia University Press, 2010: 384 pages.

Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Literatures. With Elizabeth Podnieks. Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010: 418 pages.

From the Personal to Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. With Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Susquehanna University Press, 2009: 264 pages.

Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics, Practice. Demeter Press, 2009: 274 pages.

Feminist Mothering. SUNY Press, 2008: 287 pages.

Maternal Theory: Essential Readings. Demeter Press, 2007: 846 pages.

You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University. With Ruby Newman. School of Women’s Studies, York University, 2006: 215 pages.

Motherhood: Power and Oppression. With Marie Porter and Patricia Short. Women’s Press, 2005: 300 pages.

Mother Matters: Motherhood as Discourse and Practice. ARM Press, 2004: 257 pages.

Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering: Women’s Press, 2004: 441 pages.

From Motherhood to Mothering: The Legacy of Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born. SUNY Press, 2004: 251 pages.

Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise our Sons. Routledge Press, 2001: 280 pages.

Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment and Transformation. With Sharon Abbey. Rowman & Littlefield, 2000: 302 pages.

Redefining Motherhood: Changing Identities and Patterns. With Sharon Abbey. Second Story Press, 1998: 339 pages.

Degrees

Ph.D., English, York University
M.A., English, York University
B.A., English and Women's Studies, York University

Professional Leadership

Founder and director of the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement; 1997-2020; In 2020 MIRCI transitioned to a new motherhood organization, IAMAS. Currently serve as a board member of IAMAS

Founder and editor-in-chief, Journal of the Motherhood Initiative. 1999-; 50 issues published: https://journalofmotherhoodinitiative.org/

Founder and publisher of Demeter Press; 2006- with 180 titles published. www.demeterpress.org

Research Interests

Women , Family, Motherhood, Gender issues, Mothers in Popular Culture, Women's Studies

Current Research Projects


    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    Aid to Research Workshop (York University)
Mother Centres, Feminist Pedagogy, and Young Motherhood: Creating Empowerment Programming for Young Mothers

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    IOF (International Opportunities Fund) (SSHRC)

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    Minor Research Grant (York University)

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    Specific Research Grant(Non Leave) (York University)
Being a Mother in Academia

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    SSHRC Standard Research Grant
Maternal Health and Well-being

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    Workshops and Conference (SSHRC)

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    Specific Research Grant(Non Leave) (York University)

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    Minor Research Grant (York University)
Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    Research and Transfer Journals (SSHRC)
Grandmothers and Grandmothering Conference

    Project Type: Funded
    Funders:
    Workshops and Conference (SSHRC)

All Publications


Book Chapters

Publication
Year

“Biting the Hand that Feeds You: New Momism and the Motherhood Memoir.” Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Texts: Representations of Mothering in Twentieth- and Twenty-First Century Literature. Eds. Elizabeth Podnieks and Andrea O’Reilly. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010, (Reprint); 201-212.

2010

“Coda: ‘Stories to Live By’: Maternal Literatures and Motherhood Studies.” Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Literatures. Eds. Elizabeth Podnieks and Andrea O’Reilly. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010; 365-370.

2010

“Introduction.” (with Liz Podnieks) Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Literatures Textual Mothers. Eds. Elizabeth Podnieks and Andrea O’Reilly. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010; 1-28.

2010

O'Reilly, A. “Introduction.” From the Personal to the Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. With Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Susquehanna University Press, 2009.

2009

“A Conversation with Sara Ruddick.” Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009; 14-38.

2009

O'Reilly, A. “Biting the Hand that Feeds You: New Momism and the Motherhood Memoir.” From the Personal to the Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. With Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Susquehanna University Press, 2009.

2009

“Foreword, ‘Everyday Acts’: The Politic, Praxis and Pedagogy of Feminist Mothering.” Feminist Mothering in Theory and Practice, 1985-1995: A Study in Transformative Politics. Fiona Green, Mellen Press, (Invited), 2009; pp. i-vi.

2009

“Introduction.” Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics, Practice. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009; 1-13.

2009

O'Reilly, A. “Outlaw(ing) Motherhood: A Theory and Politic of Maternal Empowerment for the 21st Century.” Motherhood at the 21st Century: Identity, Experience, Agency, Policy, Columbia University Press, 2009.

2009

“The Motherhood Memoir and the ‘New Momism’: Biting the Hand that Feeds You.” From the Personal to the Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly and Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Susquehanna University Press, 2009; 238-248.

2009

“Introduction.” Feminist Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Albany: SUNY Press, 2008.

2008

O'Reilly, A. “‘That is what feminism is: the acting and living, not just the told’: Modeling and Mentoring Feminism.” Feminist Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Albany: SUNY Press, 2008, pp. 191-202.

2008

“Feminist Mothering.” Maternal Theory: Essential Readings. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2007, pp. 792-822.

2007

“Introduction.” Maternal Theory: Essential Readings. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2007, pp. 1-6.

2007

O'Reilly, A. “You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University.” Educating Women Conference, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia,February 2007.

2006

O'Reilly, A. “Feminist Theory on Mothers and Sons.” Women’s World Today International Conference: Tromso, Norway, July 1999.

2006

“(Mis)Conceptions: Reproductive Power and Loss in the Fiction of Toni Morrison.” Motherhood: Power and Oppression. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly, Marie Porter and Patricia Short. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2005, pp.125-136.

2005

O'Reilly, A. “Feminist Perspectives on Mothering: Power and Oppression.” Gendered Intersections: An Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies. Eds. Lesley Biggs and Pamela Down. Halifax:Fernwood Publishing, 2005.

2005

O'Reilly, A. “Forward.” Parenting and Professing: Balancing Family Work with an Academic Career. Ed. Rachel Hile-Basett. Nashville: University of Vanderbilt Press, 2005, pp. xii-xvii.

2005

“Introduction.” Motherhood: Power and Oppression. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly, Marie Porter and Patricia Short. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2005, pp. 1-22.

2005

“A Politics of the Heart: African American Womanist Thought on Mothering.” Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp. 171-192. (Reprint)

2004

“Across the Divide: Contemporary Anglo-American Feminist Theory on The Mother-Daughter Relationship.” Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp. 243-262. (Reprint)

2004

O'Reilly, A. “‘Ain’t That Love?’: Anti-Racism and Racial Constructions of Motherhood.” Introduction to Ethnic Studies. Eds. Brina Baker et al. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2004,pp.181-188. (Reprint)

2004

“Introduction.” From Motherhood to Mothering: The Legacy of Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004, pp.1-23.

2004

“Introduction.” Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp. 1-28.

2004

“Introduction.” Mother Matters: Motherhood as Discourse and Practice. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: ARM Press, 2004, pp. 11-26.

2004

“Labour Signs: The Semiotics of Birthing.” Mother Matters: Motherhood as Discourse and Practice. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: ARM Press, 2004, pp. 29-36. (Reprint)

2004

“Mothering Against Motherhood and the Possibility of Empowered Maternity for Mothers and their Children.” From Motherhood to Mothering: The Legacy of Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004, pp.159-174.

2004

“Mothering Against Motherhood and the Possibility of Empowered Mothering.” Mother Outlaws:Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press,2004, pp. 59-74. (Reprint)

2004

“Mothers, Daughters, and Feminism Today: Empowerment, Agency, Narrative and Motherline.” Feminisms and Womanisms: Foundations, Theories and Praxis. Eds. Althea Prince and Susan-Silva Wayne. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp. 207-214. (Reprint)

2004

“‘We were conspirators, outlaws from the institution of motherhood’: Mothering Against Motherhood and the Possibility of Empowered Mothering.” Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004, pp.59- 75. (Reprint)

2004

O'Reilly, A. “Writing out of the Margins: Maternity, Marginality and the Emergence of a Maternal Kuntersromanne.” Preface to Portrait of an Artist as a Mother. Ed. Nancy Gerber. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2003, pp. ix-xiv.

2003

“Introduction.” Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise our Sons. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. New York: Routledge Press, 2001, pp. 1-21.

2002

O'Reilly, A. “What’s A Girl Like You Doing in a Nice Place Like This?: Being a Mother in the Academe.” Women in the Canadian Academic Tundra: Trials and Tribulations. Ed. Elana Hannah. Kingston: Queen’s University Press, 2002.

2002

“In Black and White: African American and Anglo-American Feminist Perspectives on the Mother-Son Relationship.” Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise our Sons. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. New York: Routledge Press, 2001, pp. 91-118.

2001

“‘I come from a long line of uppity irate black women’: African American Feminism on Motherhood.” Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment and Transformation. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly and Sharon Abbey. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000, pp. 143-159.

2000

“Introduction” (with Sharon Abbey). Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment and Transformation. Eds. Andrea O’Reilly and Sharon Abbey. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000, pp. 1-18.

2000

“Mothers, Daughters, and Feminism Today: Empowerment, Agency, Narrative and Motherline.” Canadian Woman Studies: An Introductory Reader. Eds. Nuzhat Amin et al. Toronto: Inanna Publications, 1999, pp. 495-504. (reprint)

1999

O'Reilly, A. Review Essay on Black Women. Reader's Guide to Women's Studies. Ed. Eleanor Amico. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 1998, pp. 78-79.

1998

"‘Ain't that love?’: Anti-Racism and Racial Constructions of Motherhood.” Everyday Acts Against Racism: Raising Children in a Multiracial World. Ed. Maureen Reddy. Seattle, Washington: Seal Press, 1996, pp. 88-98.

1996

O'Reilly, A. “Talking Back in Mother Tongue: A Feminist Course on Mothering-Motherhood.” Feminism and Education. Vol. 2. Ed. Paula T. Bourne. Toronto: Canadian Women's Studies Educational Press,1994, pp. 221-241.

1994

O'Reilly, A. “‘Ain't I a mother?’: Motherhood and Mother-Daughter Relationships in Toni Morrison's Beloved.” AFRAM Newsletter: Special Issue on Toni Morrison's Beloved. (October 1993) , pp. 67-76.

1993

Books

Publication
Year

O'Reilly, A. Textual Mothers, Maternal Texts: Motherhood in Contemporary Women’s Literatures. With Elizabeth Podnieks. Waterloo, ON: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2010; 418 pages.

2010

O'Reilly, A. From the Personal to Political: Towards a New Theory of Maternal Narrative. With Silvia Caporale-Bizzini. Selinsgrove, PA: Susquehanna University Press, 2009; 264 pages.

2009

“Maternal Authority and Social Acceptability of Children; Feminist Mothering as Maternal Practice” Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics, Practice. Ed. Andrea O’Reilly. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009; 217-229.

2009

O'Reilly A. Maternal Thinking: Philosophy, Politics, Practice. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009; 274 pages.

2009

O'Reilly A. Feminist Mothering. Albany: SUNY Press, 2008; 287 pages.

2008

O'Reilly, A. Maternal Theory: Essential Readings. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2007; 846 pages.

2007

O'Reilly, A. Rocking the Cradle: Thoughts on Motherhood, Feminism and The Possibility of Empowered Mothering. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2006: 206 pages.

2006

O'Reilly, A. *You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University. With Ruby Newman. Toronto: School of Women’s Studies, York University, 2006; 215 pages.

2006

O'Reilly, A. Motherhood: Power and Oppression. With Marie Porter and Patricia Short. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2005; 300 pages.

2005

O'Reilly, A. Toni Morrison and Motherhood: A Politics of the Heart. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004.

2004

O'Reilly, A. From Motherhood to Mothering: The Legacy of Adrienne Rich’s Of Woman Born. Albany: SUNY Press, 2004; 251 pages.

2004

O'Reilly, A. Mother Matters: Motherhood as Discourse and Practice. Toronto: ARM Press, 2004; 257 pages.

2004

O'Reilly, A. Mother Outlaws: Theories and Practices of Empowered Mothering. Toronto: Women’s Press, 2004; 441 pages.

2004

O'Reilly, A. Mothers and Sons: Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise our Sons. New York: Routledge Press, 2001; 280 pages.

2001

O'Reilly, A. Mothers and Daughters: Connection, Empowerment and Transformation. With Sharon Abbey. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000; 302 pages.

2000

O'Reilly, A. Redefining Motherhood: Changing Identities and Patterns. With Sharon Abbey. Toronto: Second Story Press, 1998; 339 pages.

1998

Journal Articles

Publication
Year

O'Reilly, A. “Reading Sara Ruddick’s Maternal Thinking.” Women’s Studies Quarterly; Special Issue on Motherhood. Fall/Winter 2009, (accepted).

2009

O'Reilly, A. “‘I discovered more than book knowledge’: York University’s Bridging Program for Women.” Atlantis. Vol, 33.2 (Winter 2009) 43-52.

2009

“‘I envision a future in which maternal thinkers are respected and self-respecting’: The Legacy of Sara Ruddick’s Maternal Thinking.” Women’s Studies Quarterly 37: 3 & 4 (Fall/Winter 2009); 291-294.

2009

O'Reilly, A. “Between the Baby and the Bathwater: Some Thoughts on a Mother-Centred Theory and Practice of Feminist Mothering.” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering 8.1 & 8.2 (Summer 2006), pp. 323-330.

2006

“Labour Signs: The Semiotics of Birthing.” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering, 3.1. (Spring/Summer 2001) , pp. 216-223.

2004

O'Reilly, A. “A Mom and her Son: Feminist Thoughts on Mothering.” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering, 2.1 (Spring/Summer 2001), pp. 179-193.

2001

O'Reilly, A. “Maternal Resistance and Redemption in Toni Morrison’s Paradise.” Journal of the Association for Research on Mothering, 1.1 (Spring/Summer 1999), pp. 187-195.

1999

O, Reilly, A.“Mothers, Daughters, and Feminism Today: Empowerment, Agency, Narrative and Motherline.” Canadian Woman Studies. 2 & 3 (Summer/Fall 1998), pp. 16-21.

1998

O'Reilly, A. “‘In search of my mother's garden, I found my own’: Mother-love, Healing, and Identity in Toni Morrison's Jazz.” African American Review. (Fall 1996) , pp. 367-378.

1996

“‘Ain't I a mother?’: Motherhood and Mother-Daughter Relationships in Toni Morrison's Beloved.” AFRAM Newsletter: Special Issue on Toni Morrison's Beloved. (October 1993) , pp. 67-76.

1993

O'Reilly, A. “Geography and Symbolism in Wuthering Heights” (with Prof. Simpson-Housley). The Bronte Society Transactions. (Winter 1990)

1990

O'Reilly, A. “Conceived in a Lesbian Embrace, Born From the Body: These Our Mothers as A Mother's Becoming in the Wor(l)d.” Rampike. 10.1 (Winter 1989).

1989

“Feminizing Feminism: Constance Beresford-Howe and the Quest for Female Freedom.” Canadian Woman Studies. 8.3 (Fall 1987), pp. 69-72.

1987

Conference Papers

Publication
Year

“Sara Ruddick’s Maternal Thinking.” The Mother Symposium, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, February 26, 2010.

2010

O'Reilly, A. “Cross Cultural Perspectives on Motherhood” “Motherhood and the Family.” Aboriginal Health & Wellness Conference, British Columbia, February 2008.

2008

O'Reilly, A. “I’m gonna show you that I’m good and I can do the work, but you’re gonna get this whole package deal”: The Maternal Wall and Strategies of Resistance in the Academe.” Women’s Worlds Conference, Madrid Spain, July 2008.

2008

O'Reilly, A. “‘The most liberating thing that ever happened to me’: Modernity, Motherhood, and Morrison’s ‘Politics of the Heart’.” 4th Bi-Annual Toni Morrison Conference, Charleston, South Carolina, July 2008.

2008

O'Reilly, A. “From the Personal to the Political: Towards a New Reading of the Maternal Narrative.” Performing Feminist Motherhood, ARM and Mamapalooza Conference, New York, New York, 2008.

2008

“‘A Rooms of One’s Own’: The Emergence of Motherhood Studies.” International Motherhood Summit: From a Motherless Society to the Symbolic Order of the Mother, Karlsruhe, Germany, June 2008.

2008

“Being a Mother in Academe.” Congress. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 2007.

2007

“Troubling Maternity: Transgressive Motherhood in Cherri Moraga’s Waiting in the Wings: a portrait of queer motherhood.” Inkanationas Conference on Latin American Studies, Lima, Peru, August 2007.

2007

“Worth it in the End: the Risks and Rewards of Feminist Mothering.” Congress. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, May 2007.

2007

“Worth it in the End: the Risks and Rewards of Feminist Mothering.” Gender and Generations Conference, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic, March 2007.

2007

“You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University.” Educating Women Conference, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, February 2007.

2007

“You Can Get There from Here: Celebrating 25 Years of Bridging Courses for Women at York University.” Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, Hawaii, January 2007.

2007

“The Motherhood Memoir and the ‘New Momism’: Biting the Hand that Feeds You.” Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, Honolulu, Hawaii, January 2007; University Of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, December 2006; Association for Research on Mothering 10th Annual Conference, Toronto, Ontario, October 2006.

“Feminist Mothering and the Motherhood Memoir.” University of Northern Cyprus, Famagusta, Northern Cyprus, April 2006.

2006

“York University’s Bridging Program for Women.” University of Northern Cyprus, Famagusta, Northern Cyprus, April 2006.

2006

“Feminist Mothering of Daughters.” Gendering Transformations: University of Crete, Rethimno, Greece, May 2005.

2005

“Feminist Mothering: Possibilities and Challenges.” Feminisms: Within and Without: University of Galway, Galway, Ireland, July 2005.

2005

“From Motherhood to Mothering: Feminist Theory on Motherhood.” Humanities Association International Annual Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, January 2004.

2004

“From Motherhood to Mothering: The Possibility of Empowered Maternity.” Association for Research on Mothering conference Motherhood and Feminism: York University, Toronto, Ontario, October 2004.

2004

“Mother Outlaws: Reflections On Empowered Mothering.” LEARNEDS: Winnipeg Manitoba, May 2004.

2004

“Roundtable on Mothers in Academia.” National Women’s Studies Conference, Orlando, Florida, June 2004.

2004

“From Patriarchal Motherhood to Feminist Mothering.” National Women’s Studies Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 2003.

2003

“Unmasking Motherhood: A Critique of the Discourse Of Intensive Mothering.” Mothering and Work: Association for Research on Mothering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, May 2003.

2003

“Dispatches from the Motherline.” Mothering and Teaching in the Academe: Association for Research on Mothering, York University, Toronto, Ontario, May 2002.

2002

“Politics of the Heart: Toni Morrison on Motherhood.” Cross Routes; International Conference on African American Literature: Sardinia, Italy, March 2001.

2001

“Feminism, Masculinity and the Struggle to Raise Our Sons.” Twelfth Annual Conference on Men and Masculinity: Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 2000.

2000

“Maternal Redemption and Resistance in Toni Morrison’s Paradise.” Second Bi-annual Conference of the Toni Morrison Society: ‘Meanings of Home’: Loraine, Ohio, September 2000.

2000

“Toni Morrison on Motherhood.” Mothering in the African Diaspora Conference: York University: Toronto, Ontario, February 2000.

2000

Public Lectures

Publication
Year

O'Reilly, A. “‘A Rooms of One’s Own’: The Emergence of Motherhood Studies.” International Motherhood Summit: From a Motherless Society to the Symbolic Order of the Mother, Karlsruhe, Germany, June 2008.

2008

Forthcoming

Publication
Year

Being and Thinking as an Academic Mother: Theory and Narrative. With Linn O’Brien Hallstein. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2011, (Under Contract).

2011

O'Reilly, A. 21st Century Motherhood: Experience, Identity, Policy, Agency. Columbia University Press, 2010, (in press, May); 384 pages.

2010

O'Reilly, A. The Palin Factor: Political Mothers and Public Motherhood in the 21st Century. With Deirdre Condit. Demeter Press, 2010, (Under Contract).

2010

O'Reilly, A. *You Say You Want a Revolution: The Motherhood Movement of the 21st Century. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2010, (in press, July).

2010

O'Reilly, A. 20th Anniversary of Sara Ruddick’s Maternal Thinking. Toronto: Demeter Press, 2009, (Under Contract).

2009

O;Reilly, A. “Introduction.” Motherhood at the 21st Century: Identity, Experience, Policy, Agency. Columbia University Press, 2009.

2009



Upcoming Courses

Term Course Number Section Title Type
Fall/Winter 2024 AP/GWST2513 6.0 A Mothering and Motherhood ONLN
Winter 2025 GS/GFWS6214 3.0 M Maternal Theory ONLN