Urban assemblages, motherhood and mobility in Johannesburg and London
Gullino, Silvia and Rubin, Margot (2026) Urban assemblages, motherhood and mobility in Johannesburg and London. Third World Quarterly. ISSN 0143-6597
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Abstract
In this article, we explore the intersection of motherhood, mothering and mobility practices in Johannesburg, South Africa, and London, UK. Using an a posteriori mode of comparison that focuses on processes rather than repeated patterns, and drawing on assemblage theory, we examine the challenges of mothering and mobility in major cities of both the Global South and North. This approach enables us to show how the material and non-material shape everyday experiences of motherhood. In doing so, we argue that urban spaces are active components in the assemblages that make mothering both possible and challenging, rather than passive backdrops to human activities. By demonstrating how cities enable or constrain maternal mobility, we highlight the need for urban design and mobility policies that more explicitly account for mothers’ lived realities.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Identification Number: | 10.1080/01436597.2026.2628265 |
| Dates: | Date Event 27 December 2025 Accepted 28 February 2026 Published Online |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | motherhood, urban assemblage, affect, mobility |
| Subjects: | CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-02 - building CAH13 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01 - architecture, building and planning > CAH13-01-04 - planning (urban, rural and regional) |
| Divisions: | Architecture, Built Environment, Computing and Engineering > Architecture and Built Environment > Built Environment |
| Depositing User: | Gemma Tonks |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Apr 2026 10:07 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Apr 2026 10:07 |
| URI: | https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16971 |
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