Analysing constructions of childbirth in the media; Moving possibilities for childbirth beyond gender essentialism.

Kurz, E; Davis, D; Browne, J

Analysing constructions of childbirth in the media; Moving possibilities for childbirth beyond gender essentialism.

Kurz, E Davis, D

Browne, J

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women and Birth, 2020, 33, (4), pp. 377-382
Issue Date:: 2020

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kurz, E
dc.contributor.author	Davis, D https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2041-1064
dc.contributor.author	Browne, J
dc.date.accessioned	2020-07-29T02:49:41Z
dc.date.available	2019-06-18
dc.date.available	2020-07-29T02:49:41Z
dc.date.issued	2020
dc.identifier.citation	Women and Birth, 2020, 33, (4), pp. 377-382
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192
dc.identifier.issn	1878-1799
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/141906
dc.description.abstract	PROBLEM:Birth can be a contentious issue with maternity care providers and consumers alike advocating fiercely defended and polarising views. These positions are largely shaped by opposing biomedical and natural childbirth constructions of birth. Contemporary debate on homebirth is one such example which illustrates this divide. AIM:To reconceptualise birth by deconstructing current constructions of childbirth contained in homebirth articles published by one online media source in Australia. METHODS:Australia's self-acclaimed largest women's media company was searched for articles pertaining to homebirth. Articles which met inclusion criteria were analysed using poststructural feminist theory and deconstruction techniques informed by Davies and Gannon, Butler and others. FINDINGS:Gender essentialism present in both the biomedical and natural childbirth approaches constructs birth as an act of nature, dictated by biology rather than one with a sociohistorical location. DISCUSSION:Gender essentialism at birth serves to obscure the sociohistorical determinants of birth, making it appear as a static, immutable sort of act, rather than one which is defined by its sociohistorical location and which can be redefined, even reinvented, by its sociohistorical location. CONCLUSION:Gender essentialism is an enduring phenomenon, underpinning seemingly opposing constructions of childbirth. Disengaging childbirth from essentialisms of woman's nature may create possibilities and meanings of childbirth that could be useful for childbearing women.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Women and Birth
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2019.06.014
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
dc.title	Analysing constructions of childbirth in the media; Moving possibilities for childbirth beyond gender essentialism.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	33
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	true
dc.date.updated	2020-07-29T02:49:38Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	33
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

PROBLEM:Birth can be a contentious issue with maternity care providers and consumers alike advocating fiercely defended and polarising views. These positions are largely shaped by opposing biomedical and natural childbirth constructions of birth. Contemporary debate on homebirth is one such example which illustrates this divide. AIM:To reconceptualise birth by deconstructing current constructions of childbirth contained in homebirth articles published by one online media source in Australia. METHODS:Australia's self-acclaimed largest women's media company was searched for articles pertaining to homebirth. Articles which met inclusion criteria were analysed using poststructural feminist theory and deconstruction techniques informed by Davies and Gannon, Butler and others. FINDINGS:Gender essentialism present in both the biomedical and natural childbirth approaches constructs birth as an act of nature, dictated by biology rather than one with a sociohistorical location. DISCUSSION:Gender essentialism at birth serves to obscure the sociohistorical determinants of birth, making it appear as a static, immutable sort of act, rather than one which is defined by its sociohistorical location and which can be redefined, even reinvented, by its sociohistorical location. CONCLUSION:Gender essentialism is an enduring phenomenon, underpinning seemingly opposing constructions of childbirth. Disengaging childbirth from essentialisms of woman's nature may create possibilities and meanings of childbirth that could be useful for childbearing women.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/141906