Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody (Hardcover)

by Phyllis Chesler (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Believing that mothers and children have a natural and "ineffable" right to each other's company, psychologist Chesler (Women and Madness, etc.) asserts that there is a double standard in our patriarchal society that governs the rights of women, children and child custody. In part because of the "fathers' rights" movement, she charges, unfit fathers are now granted custody with increasing frequency. Chesler's impressively annotated, broad-based study offers a historical review of custody practices and an analysis of what constitutes "fit" parents, which serves as background to individual cases of worthy mothers considered unfit because of careers, impoverishment, a voluntarily unwed state or other nonstandard ways of living. Chesler castigates the distinction made between male custodial "rights" and female custodial "obligations." She notes that millions of fathers have obtained custody by kidnapping, are often violent, average five times more income than mothers yet rarely pay child support. Joint custody should begin as joint parenting, affirms the author, in a deeply felt book that is sure to be controversial. Major ad/promo; author tour. January 13
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
What qualities make a woman a good mother, "fit" to be awarded custody of her children? Are these qualities different from those that make a father fit to have custody of his children, if he wants it? The preponderance of evidence suggests that they are, as Chesler amply illustrates: mothers are measured against an ideal, and can always be found wanting in some respect; fathers who have neglected, molested, kidnapped, beaten, and brainwashed their children are nonetheless awarded custody over the claims of the women who have been their primary (often sole) nurturers for years. This new title is similar in format to Chesler's now-classic Women and Madness and will doubtless evoke similar passions. Here she has drawn together empirical data, mythology, case studies, historical research, and political analysis to produce a stunning and exhaustive indictment of the treatment of mothers by the modern justice system. Highly recommended. Beverly Miller, Boise State Univ. Lib., Id.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 651 pages
• Publisher: Mcgraw-Hill (March 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070107017
• ISBN-13: 978-0070107014
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,485,999 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for EVERY MOTHER - -even still married ones !, March 27, 2000

By	"ksward2000" (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody (Paperback)

Every mother should read this eyeopening book about the patriarchal legal system. Mothers do not get custody if fathers (even poor fathers) want to ask for it. Good mothers lose custody, bad fathers get custody (and child support) and the court system is biased toward men and their money. Mothers are slammed if they work for not being a full time mom, and equally so if they ARE full time moms for being lazy. I read this book ten years ago and rarely a week goes by that I don't think about it or tell someone about it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read, January 30, 2002

By	Cherokee Basket Weaver "Authentic Cherokee" (Garden Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Every mother going through a custody battle should read this - puts a whole lot of issues into perspective - you're not an unfit mother - it's not your fault - reading this tells you all about what custody battles are about

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If the TRUTH is what you are after, then ..., August 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mothers on Trial: The Battle for Children and Custody (Paperback)

... this is THE book AND THE ONLY ONE (and I have read them all) on the subject of who gets custody of your children and why. Dr. Chesler, unlike sooooo many other authors who claim expertise on THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE THERE IS, OUR KIDS' WELFARE, IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, knows, I mean reeeeally knows why women lose custody of the flesh of their own flesh. So. She tells it. And, O, what a mess she causes. And, ya' know, ordinary, general folks, why, they do NOOOOOT like messes. Especially where their MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, their families and kids, is concerned. Dr. Chesler pulls out all the stops and lets it rip. And, ya' know, ordinary, general folks, why, they do NOOOOOT like being messed with -- especially when it is their families' uuuugly TRUTHS they want kept quiet and in hiding. Dr. Chesler doesn't. She doesn't keep quiet and she doesn't keep those secrets in hiding. Women in the civil (custody) courts around the entire US of A? Why, these "good 'nough" mothers might as well be in Jordan or Afghanistan or Congo for all the likelihood there is of their getting custody of their own natural flesh -- IF HE PRESSES FOR CUSTODY AND HAS THE LEAST BIT OF PILLAREDNESS ABOUT HIM. That is, if he, the father, is himself a doctor, a judge, a lawyer, a prominent, community businessman, teacher, cop, administrator, manager, MONEY, yada, yada, yada AND seeks custody or a modification of an original decree (custody or child support $), good ole' ma is dead. SHE WILL LOSE. PERIOD. Ask Dr. Laura? Hah! I say: KNOW Dr. Chesler. If you are a mother and in, or not even yet in and think you could not possibly ever be in, a custody struggle, you had better THINK AGAIN AND MEMORIZE this book cover to cover. NOW. The only good news from this book and Dr. Chesler's research: There are now entire chapters of support groups nationwide called exactly that, Mothers on Trial, who can help you. Try one out; moms meet SECRETLY because of fear of revenge and reprisal against them. After all, their flesh are still, most often, years and years away from legal adulthood; the mothers are soooo afraid -- and need to be -- of losing whatever contact they may still have with their kids -- IF those kids' fathers find out about their "association".