Harvard University sets a standard in the area of post secondary education. With a long history of excellence in academia this institution is set apart from many other collegiate institutions in the world. Albeit an institution set high on the parameters of education, many professors at the university teach that any individual who researches, studies and experiences a topic is considered an expert in that field. An expert is any individual who is a specialist or master in their field; they are considered the highest ranking authority on the topic at hand.

For many women we have a resident expert in our lives, our mothers oftentimes rank as the highest authority in the fields of marriage, childrearing and self-esteem. We look to them to mentor us in fields of study where they may or may not be an expert. We assume they are masterful, crafty and all knowing with a diversity that fits our ever-changing society. A mother serves as a mentor for the growing process of life, she is there to assist and aid in the growth of her daughter. She teaches us about our bodies, hair, and boys. However, there are some roles that even the mother is unable to fulfill. Oftentimes we assume her role as expert in subject matters where she may have very little experience. What happens when the little girl becomes a woman? What then becomes of the daughter who is married and has a mother who was single all of her life, or the daughter who is the career woman whose mother chose to remain at home to raise her children?