DESTIGMATISING INFANT LOSS WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND HASHTAGS ON INSTAGRAM

Fahd, C

DESTIGMATISING INFANT LOSS WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND HASHTAGS ON INSTAGRAM

Fahd, C

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Publisher:: Taylor & Francis
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Photographies, 2023, 16, (1), pp. 109-132
Issue Date:: 2023-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Fahd, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3404-1535
dc.date.accessioned	2024-01-17T01:57:25Z
dc.date.available	2024-01-17T01:57:25Z
dc.date.issued	2023-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Photographies, 2023, 16, (1), pp. 109-132
dc.identifier.issn	1754-0763
dc.identifier.issn	1754-0771
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/174679
dc.description.abstract	A baby’s new life is often celebrated publicly on social media by sharing ultrasound images and photographs of pregnancy and childbirth. However, not all births go to plan; sometimes, a baby tragically dies, and birth’s social rituals of photographic celebrations cease. While sharing photographs of a deceased baby is rare, numerous examples on the social media platform Instagram reveals that this is slowly changing. Undertaking a search of hashtags associated with infant loss reveals a social movement led by mothers, birth photographers and midwives aiming to destigmatise the death of a baby. These women aim to build death literacy and raise awareness of infant loss by sharing personal stories and photographs of and with their deceased babies. In turn, the hashtags reveal an online community of women who, in supporting each other, understand the critical role of sharing birth and death photographs on social media. This essay explores the complex terrain of visualising infant loss while visually and textually analysing Instagram posts to reveal how and why mothers use photography, alongside captions and hashtags, to express their loss publicly.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Taylor & Francis
dc.relation.ispartof	Photographies
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/17540763.2022.2150877
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess
dc.rights	This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Photographies on 27 Feb 2023, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17540763.2022.2150877
dc.subject	1901 Art Theory and Criticism, 1905 Visual Arts and Crafts
dc.subject.classification	3601 Art history, theory and criticism
dc.title	DESTIGMATISING INFANT LOSS WITH PHOTOGRAPHY AND HASHTAGS ON INSTAGRAM
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	16
utslib.for	1901 Art Theory and Criticism
utslib.for	1905 Visual Arts and Crafts
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Design
utslib.copyright.status	embargoed	*
utslib.copyright.embargo	2024-07-01T00:00:00+1000Z
dc.date.updated	2024-01-17T01:57:24Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	16
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

A baby’s new life is often celebrated publicly on social media by sharing ultrasound images and photographs of pregnancy and childbirth. However, not all births go to plan; sometimes, a baby tragically dies, and birth’s social rituals of photographic celebrations cease. While sharing photographs of a deceased baby is rare, numerous examples on the social media platform Instagram reveals that this is slowly changing. Undertaking a search of hashtags associated with infant loss reveals a social movement led by mothers, birth photographers and midwives aiming to destigmatise the death of a baby. These women aim to build death literacy and raise awareness of infant loss by sharing personal stories and photographs of and with their deceased babies. In turn, the hashtags reveal an online community of women who, in supporting each other, understand the critical role of sharing birth and death photographs on social media. This essay explores the complex terrain of visualising infant loss while visually and textually analysing Instagram posts to reveal how and why mothers use photography, alongside captions and hashtags, to express their loss publicly.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/174679