Biological markers and social differentiation:Crack babiesand the construction of the dangerous mother

Abstract

Crack mothers-particularly African American and Latina women-have been constructed as maternal villains who actively and permanently damage their offspring. Many women have been arrested or lost parental rights to their children because of child neglect charges. Despite this panic, recent medical and legal research indicates that reports of damage to the fetus have been greatly exaggerated. This article examines the ongoing questions in medical publications about crack babies. The authors connect the search for biological markers of cocaine use during pregnancy to a new cultural conception of a bio-underclass. The conclusion considers medical developments and controversies in the broader context of class and racial divisions and reproductive politics in the United States.

Uma visão psiquiátrica sobre o fenômeno do crack na atualidade

“…Sabe-se que o uso de crack durante a gestação pode desencadear abortos espontâneos, prematuridade, diminuição no crescimento do feto e outras alterações perinatais. Além disso, aqueles que nascem vivos podem apresentar retardo mental ou outros transtornos mentais e comportamentais que trarão sérias conseqüências para suas vidas 9,10 .…”

Panic in the ER: Maternal Drug Use, the Right to Bodily Integrity, Privacy, and Informed Consent

“…However, the Chasnoff study also found that black women were ten times more likely to be arrested for cocaine use during pregnancy; a statistic that Horger, Brown, and Condon ignore (Chasnoff, Landress, and Barrett 1990; see also Frank et al . 2001; Litt and McNeil 1997). Only black women were arrested under the Interagency Policy.…”

“…Often, the images used in news and magazine stories reinforced the national descriptions of pregnant cocaine users as “out of control,”“dangerous,”“selfish” women who were dependent on the state (Barol et al . 1986; Kerr 1987; Litt and McNeil 1997; Pooser 1990; Reeves and Campbell 1994; Reinarman and Levine 1997b; Siegel 1994).…”

“…This is not a new phenomenon. What is new is how quickly the state and nation believed that these women should be treated as criminals, as dangerous to their community and family (Condon 1995; Flavin 2008; Horger, Brown, and Condon 1990; Inciardi, Lockwood, and Pottieger 1993; Langone, Donoghue, and Wyss 1988; Litt and McNeil 1997; Roberts 1997; Washington 2006).…”

“…v. City of Charleston 1999; Flavin 2008; Gomez 1997; Humphries 1999; Humphries et al. 1992; Jos, Marshall, and Perlmutter 1995; Litt and McNeil 1997; Neuspiel 1996; Paltrow 1990; Roberts 1997; Washington 2006). Realistically, policy is often determined by emotion, politics, and personal beliefs.…”