Culture of motherhood and its transformation in the context of globalization

The article deals with the motherhood as a social, cultural, and historical phenomenon. The author marks its significance in the genesis of traditional culture. The mechanisms of reproduction in Slavic societies of the North Caucasus are considered. Factors that determined maternal practices include obstetrics are analyzed. Influence of the displacement of home labors with the assistance of wise women by the childbirths with the professional midwives is examined. The author notes that some traditions (for example, having many children, high social status of mothers) were lost by the end of the twentieth century, but now they have not lost their relevance. Other ones (for example, rejection of prolonged breastfeeding) were taking root. The analogy between surrogacy and trade in breastfeeding is marked.