Supermum, superwife, supereverything: performing femininity in the transition to motherhood

Choi, Precilla Y. L.; Henshaw, Carol; Baker, Sarah R.; Tree, Joanne

doi:10.1080/02646830500129487

Cited by 234 publications

(237 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

217

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Support-seeking is seen as showing inadequacy, an inability to cope with competing demands of caring for a baby, domestic work, caring for others and often a career. This fits with research showing the pressure women feel to fit the ideal of the perfect woman who can cope and does not need help [31]. In line with previous research, our findings highlight the need for ongoing relationships with caregivers and different models of postnatal care.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Not identifying with postnatal depression: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal symptoms of distress and need for support

Coates

Visser

Ayers

2015

Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Permanent repository link Methods:In-depth interviews with 17 women in southeast England with a baby under one year old who experienced a postnatal mental health problem. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.Results: Women described a lack of identification with the concept of postnatal depression and felt that other forms of emotional distress were not recognised by the healthcare system. Women felt that support seeking for postnatal mental health problems needed to be normalised and that support should be available whether or not women were diagnosed. . Assessment needs to be well timed and caringly implemented.Discussion: Identification and recognition of symptoms and disorders other than postnatal depression needs to be improved. Awareness of multiple types of distress needs to be raised both for women experiencing such distress, and for healthcare professionals, to enable them to support women at this time. Different approaches to assessment that include the range of symptoms reported should be piloted.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Not identifying with postnatal depression: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal symptoms of distress and need for support

Coates

Visser

Ayers

2015

Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It is also worth noting that babies tend to restrict the movements of all mothers, regardless of age, and a common observation among new mothers is that they are confined to the home in a way they had not been previously (Choi et al, 2005).…”

Section: Defence and Copingmentioning

confidence: 99%

What a Difference a Decade Makes: Rethinking Teenage Pregnancy as a Problem

Arai¹

2009

Social Policy & Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy (TPS) has been implemented in England since 1999 and has two aims: to halve under 18s conceptions; and to reduce the risk of social exclusion among young mothers. The TPS portrays young motherhood as problematic, the cause of poor outcomes. Yet, the problematisation of teenage fertility has been contested, especially by qualitative researchers who have demonstrated that early motherhood can be experienced positively. This research is discussed here, as are findings from a small-scale study in three English locations, where teenage mothers reported good experiences of parenthood. The discrepancy between these accounts of motherhood and policy is considered.

show abstract

“…In Ugarizza's (2002) study, none of the participants believed that biology was the sole culprit of their distress, although a few did attribute some degree of responsibility to hormonal factors. More often, these women felt that a lack of preparedness for motherhood (Choi, Henshaw, Baker, & Tree, 2005;Homewood, Tweed, Cree, & Crossley, 2009;Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), lack of support (also in Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), fatigue and difficulties in breastfeeding (also in Haga, Lynne, Slinning, & Kraft, 2012) and delivery were the major contributors to their PPD. Other possible contributing factors could be high levels of stress (including work and financial; Zelkowitz & Milet, 1997), low self-esteem and loneliness, as well as feelings of incompetence, loss of self, an inability to cope (Letourneau et al, 2010), and isolation (Knudson-Martin & Silverstein, 2009).…”

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to the feminist perspective of MPPD, a mother's distress in the postpartum period comes from a conflict between her expectations of what it takes to be a good mother (which are influenced by her society and culture, Burr 1995;Fairclough, 1995Fairclough, /2010Willig, 2001) and the reality of her situation (Abrams & Curran, 2007;Barnes, 2006;Beck, 2002;Biehle & Mickelson, 2012;Choi et al, 2005;Whiffen, 2004). For example, researchers have shown that, during pregnancy, mothers have expectations about how much a husband should contribute to postpartum responsibilities, and that these mothers express more distress and depressive symptoms when these expectations are not met (Biehle & Mickelson, 2012).…”

Section: Causal Theoriesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Alexander

McMullen

2015

GENL

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a medicalized condition that exists on a continuum of postpartum mood disorders. PPD is reported to be experienced by 10-15% of mothers and 10% of fathers during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby. PPD, as experienced by either parent, is considered a serious condition because of its potential short-and long-term negative impacts on the developing child.In this thesis I explore how motherhood and fatherhood are constructed in the context of articles on maternal and paternal PPD in Canadian and American newspapers. Specifically, Ifocus on how references to the opposite partner were used to position each parent, and how each parent was positioned with respect to the new baby.In the articles on maternal PPD, husbands were either inconsequential to the story, positioned as being absent, or constructed as supporting the mother through instrumental and action-oriented behaviours. In addition, mothers were constructed as lonely and isolated because of self-imposed limitations (e.g., feeling ashamed for not being happy).In the articles on paternal PPD, the mother-father relationship was based on differences and competition. Fathers were constructed as isolated, lonely and misunderstood, most often through mother-blaming, such as by positioning the mother as responsible for the father's wellbeing (e.g., causing his PPD), and by labelling PPD "a woman's domain." Fathers' loneliness was presented as being due to imposed limitations of others (e.g., others did not properly prepare fathers for fatherhood).Mothering was constructed as being instinctually skilled, tolerant, and self-sacrificing, with the inherent capability to manage multiple roles and changes. The mother-baby relationship was constructed as naturally joyful, all-important and -consuming. Fathers were not expected to be as skilled or instinctively prepared and tolerant, to engage in chores/childcare, or to be explicitly overjoyed with the baby. Mothers were blamed for their distress in the role, while others were blamed for fathers' distresses.Gendered stereotypes in the parenting role were perpetuated in these newspaper articles.Parenthood was not constructed as a collaboration, but rather motherhood and fatherhood stood in isolation from each other, with motherhood positioned as the primary role. These constructions continue to maintain fathers in the background of parenthood as an "other," and to position mothers as responsible for the well-being of her partner, child(ren) and herself.iv Acknowledgements First and foremost, I recognize that I probably would not be here if it was not for the upbringing and unconditional support of my mom (Anna), dad (Steve) and sister (Catherine).My other half, Ben, was also a blessed angel who kept me grounded and sane! All of them kept me going, not only with their encouragement, but also with their excitement.

show abstract

Supermum, superwife, supereverything: performing femininity in the transition to motherhood

Cited by 234 publications

References 17 publications

Not identifying with postnatal depression: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal symptoms of distress and need for support

Not identifying with postnatal depression: a qualitative study of women’s postnatal symptoms of distress and need for support

What a Difference a Decade Makes: Rethinking Teenage Pregnancy as a Problem

Constructions of motherhood and fatherhood in newspaper articles on maternal and paternal postpartum depression

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About