Yet, the bad mother is also a complex and nuanced character. She represents the contradictions and complexities of motherhood and the pressures that mothers face to be both selfless and selfish, nurturing and destructive. The bad mother is sometimes a product of circumstance – perhaps she is struggling with a mental illness or dealing with trauma or abuse. She may be seen as a victim of patriarchal structures and societal expectations that limit her ability to fulfill her own desires and aspirations.