Franca Lehfeldt releases book on motherhood and societal expectations

Journalist and former presenter Franca Lehfeldt has released a new book titled ‘Gute Mütter, schlechte Mütter’ (Good Mothers, Bad Mothers), which examines societal expectations and prejudices regarding motherhood in Germany.

In the book, Lehfeldt explores various aspects of parenting, including reproductive medicine and the historical lack of support for childcare infrastructure in Germany. She includes interviews with experts, such as a breastfeeding consultant and the former head of reproductive medicine at Charité in Berlin.

Lehfeldt, who shares parenting duties with her husband, Christian Lindner, advocates for greater individual freedom in how women choose to live and parent. She argues against the ‘unspoken pigeonholing’ of women and emphasizes that mothers should be able to make their own decisions—whether that involves staying at home or utilizing external childcare—without facing critical judgment.