Urban assemblages, motherhood and mobility in Johannesburg and London

This article explores mothers’ mobilities in Johannesburg (South Africa) and London (UK) by drawing upon assemblage theory. It highlights the complex intersectionality of motherhood and mobility in urban contexts and emphasises how individual experiences of motherhood and mobility are shaped by a number of interconnected material, socio-cultural, and economic factors. Our central argument is twofold: first, that motherhood mobility is a dynamic assemblage, continuously influenced by interactions with people, urban spaces, and infrastructures; and second, that the differences between the Global North and Global South, Johannesburg and London contexts, are not as pronounced as often assumed. By exploring cities' social and material dimensions, we offer a nuanced, context-sensitive understanding of how mothers navigate urban spaces in both cities.