The changing nature of grandmothers

Two Melbourne researchers are conducting an Australia-wide survey to gain a better understanding of contemporary ‘grandmothering’.

Professor Susan Moore from Swinburne University of Technology and Professor Doreen Rosenthal from the University of Melbourne are documenting the experiences of today’s grandmothers with the aim of writing a book.

Both women are grandmothers themselves and they now want to give Australian grandmothers the chance to tell their stories.

While traditional stories depict grandmothers as frail ladies in lace and lavender, many modern women have a different perspective.

The research will focus on the transition into ‘grandmotherhood’, the expectations of contemporary grandmothers and the effects of the ‘grandmother’ role on a woman’s wellbeing.

“Early results suggest great pleasure in the role for a range of reasons,” said Professor Moore.

“For example, [grandmothers have talked about] ‘enjoying the best aspects of mothering without the pitfalls’; ‘having someone to pass my memories on to’; ‘the enormous joy of seeing our daughters emerge and develop as mothers’; and ‘the joy in feeling needed’.”

But it’s not all positive. Tiredness, conflict over babysitting expectations, problems with in-laws, and feelings of being taken for granted have also surfaced. 

“So far, our data indicate that this is a generation of grandmothers who feel in excellent health and see themselves as younger in attitudes and behaviours than their own grandmothers were,” said Professor Moore.

However she said the project is only just beginning and information from more grandmothers is needed.

“We’d like to hear from custodial and non-custodial grandmothers, step grandmothers, grans who see their grandchildren often or rarely – in fact all grandmothers who believe they have something to say about this interesting and challenging life stage,” she said.

Click here to access an anonymous online survey. Hard copies of the survey with return envelopes are also available from Susan Moore at smoore@swin.edu.au.