50 Years of Becoming a Mother
This project examines women's transition to motherhood over the last 50 years in the UK
The project runs from February 2025 to September 2029 and is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
News
“It takes a village”: Charlotte Faircloth comments on the challenges of modern parenting
In a recent Independent article, Charlotte Faircloth noted how modern society and the ideal of a nuclear family makes it difficult for parents to build a village. “Society” she said “is structured in such a way that it can be hard for parents to build a village – the ideal of the nuclear family, consisting…
BAM50 Present UCL Lunch Hour Lecture
In March 2026, Charlotte Faircloth, Kate Errington and Rachel Arkell presented a UCL Lunch Hour Lecture, chaired by Meg Wiggins. The UCL Lunch Hour Lecture series, running since 1942, showcases exceptional UCL research. In the lecture the team gave an overview of the ’50 Years of Becoming a Mother’ project. Watch the lecture here or…
Watch Archival Footage of Ann Oakley discussing the original Becoming a Mother Project
In October 1978, Professor Ann Oakley appeared on Thames Television’s After Noon with Mavis Nicholson. Joined by two mothers from the original Becoming a Mother study, they discuss the realities of first-time motherhood. In this clip, Ann introduces the project. Thanks to Fremantle for providing access to this archival material.
Project Leaders
Charlotte Faircloth
Professor of Family and Society at the UCL Social Research Institute and Project Leader of the BAM50 project.
Ann Oakley
Professor of Sociology and Social Policy, is one of the most influential sociologists of post-war Britain, and Co-Project Leader on BAM50.
Meg Wiggins
Senior Research Officer and Lecturer in Social Policy at the UCL Social Research Institute, and Co-Project Leader of BAM50.