Dr Aric Sigman has highlighted the attitudes towards the mothers, which he says remain unspoken but are highly damaging, labeling it as ‘motherism’.
Describing the clichés, the academic explained:
‘“Motherism” - the prejudice against stay-at-home mothers - a prejudice that expresses itself in derogatory clichés like: “You gain a baby and lose a brain” and comments that refer to “schoolgate mother mentality”, or to being “willingly self-lobotomised”.
‘The implication is that by being a full-time mother you are “subjugated and servile” and even sexually unattractive once you are a mother - a quality only associated with women who return to work with their high heels and clipboards.’
He continued:
‘Motherhood must not hide its light under a bushel. Greater maternal contact in the early years, especially during infancy, is greatly advantageous to the child.
‘Society must be asked why this could possibly be construed as contentious.’
Sigman's concerns were shared during an event organised by the Mothers At Home Matter group, which has campaigned against taxpayer-funded childcare support for households where both parents work.
The group recently hit back at George Osborne’s theory that being a full-time mother was a ‘lifestyle choice’.
Recent statistics show that the majority of new mothers return to work after their maternity leave, with many believing that full time parenting is confined to the rich or those on benefits.
However Sally Goddard Blythe, an expert in child development at the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology, believes it is highly beneficial for mothers to stay at home for as long as possible.
She said: ‘We are the only mammal that deliberately separates its young from its mother for economic and social reasons before it is physically able to fend for itself.’