21세기는 여성적 가치와 (그러한 여성적 가치에 기반을 둔) 여성 리더십이 강력하게 요청되는 시대이다. 한편으로는 그동안 축적되어 온 여성들의 지적 훈련과 사회진출의 경험이, 다른 한편으로는 급속한 시공간의 변혁과 함께 새로운 관계성, 새로운 창의력, 새로운 비전을 추구하는 시대적 요청이 여성/주의적 리더십의 토양이 되고 있다. 본 연구는 이러한 시대적 맥락 속에서 모성적 실천 및 사유, 그리고 양식을 여성/주의 리더십의 중요한 역사적 원천의 하나로 고찰한다. 즉 ‘모성’이 여성에게 정체성과 권위, 그리고 사회적 존중과 자기 존중의 자원이 되는 방식을 숙고하고 이것을 여성의 역사 및 리더십 논의와 연결하고자 한다. 이를 위해 고대 신화시대에서부터 현재에 이르기까지 제도적, 이데올로기적 차원에서 역사적으로 구성된 ‘모성’ 신화를 기호학적으로 해체하는 동시에 새로운 모성 신화 쓰기를 시도한다. 새로 쓰는 모성 신화는 성별 및 혈연과 무관하게 모성적 실천에 기반을 둔 모성적 사유와 양식을 지향하며, 어머니-딸의 계보를 자매 공동체의 보다 넓은 지평으로 확산시킨다. 이로써 관계지향적이며 수평적이고 웹 스타일의 특성을 지니는 것으로 평가받는 여성 리더십은 자신에 대한 신뢰와 존중감, 그리고 타자성과 차이의 이해 양면에 있어 한층 더 깊은 여성주의 리더십으로 발전할 수 있을 것이다.

Feminine value sets and women’s/feminist leadership, which are plotted out on those feminine values, are sought after in the 21 th century. This study will be focusing on the maternal practice and maternal thinking which is derived from that practice, as a crucial historical source of women’s/feminist leadership: on the manner in which ‘mothering’ gives women social identity, authority and even the respect of society, as well as self esteem, as well as in the manner in which this fact can be connected with women’s herstory and the discussion of leadership. Confronted with these questions, this study will attempt to semiologically deconstruct the “myth of mother/ing” that has been nurtured at the institutional and ideological level, from the beginning of the era of myth-building to the present. And at the same time,a new myth of mothering will be written, from the perspective of feminist leadership. It will help mother-daughter genealogy expand to a widerhorizon of sisters-community. In doing so, women’s leadership, which is known for its relation-oriented, horizontal and web-styled characters, could be developed into feminist leadership with a more profound self-confidence, more empowering relations and more understanding of the otherness and differences as well.

Feminine value sets and women’s/feminist leadership, which are plotted out on those feminine values, are sought after in the 21 th century. This study will be focusing on the maternal practice and maternal thinking which is derived from that practice, as a crucial historical source of women’s/feminist leadership: on the manner in which ‘mothering’ gives women social identity, authority and even the respect of society, as well as self esteem, as well as in the manner in which this fact can be connected with women’s herstory and the discussion of leadership. Confronted with these questions, this study will attempt to semiologically deconstruct the “myth of mother/ing” that has been nurtured at the institutional and ideological level, from the beginning of the era of myth-building to the present. And at the same time,a new myth of mothering will be written, from the perspective of feminist leadership. It will help mother-daughter genealogy expand to a widerhorizon of sisters-community. In doing so, women’s leadership, which is known for its relation-oriented, horizontal and web-styled characters, could be developed into feminist leadership with a more profound self-confidence, more empowering relations and more understanding of the otherness and differences as well.

mothering, maternal thinking, women’s culture, mothers-sisters- community, feminist leadership