Motherhood, Context, and Language: A Narrative Synthesis of Filicide in South Africa Through a Linguistic Feminist Lens

Abstract

This article examines maternal experiences in cases of filicide in South Africa using a linguistic feminist lens, foregrounding how language constructs and reflects maternal identity, societal expectations, and contextual pressures within motherhood. Through employing a narrative synthesis of case studies and published literature, the study prioritises challenging experienced through motherhood and contextual factors. Findings highlight the interplay between socio-economic constraints, family dynamics, and societal discourse, demonstrating the utility of linguistic feminist analysis in understanding complex maternal experiences. Through local narratives, the study addresses a gap in South African research and contributes to feminist psychological scholarship on motherhood and social context.