Contemplating Maternity in an Era of Choice

Sara Hayden; Lynn O&#039;Brien Hallstein

doi:10.5771/9780739138922

Summary

Women who came of age in the late twentieth century were raised in the era of choice; they grew up believing that reproductive decision-making is a political right, a responsibility of women living the successes of second wave feminism, and under their control. Contemplating Maternity in an Era of Choice: Explorations into Discourses of Reproduction explores contemporary maternity both within and in light of these late-twentieth century understandings. Employing a variety of feminist communication approaches, the volume's contributors discuss how discourses of choice shape and are shaped by women's identities and experiences as (non)mothers and how those same discourses affect and reflect private practices and public policies related to reproduction and motherhood. Through this process, the contributors illustrate a variety of ways of conducting feminist thinking, research, and practices within the communication discipline. Major sub-disciplines within communication studies are represented here including feminist organizational, interpersonal, rhetorical, critical/cultural, and social movement studies. Whereas many of the previous scholarly investigations into maternity highlight only one aspect or phase of motherhood, Contemplating Maternity in an Era of Choice is unique because it investigates discourses of choice across the arc of maternity and as enacted through various (non)maternal subject positions.

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Bibliographic data

Copyright year: 2010
ISBN-Print: 978-0-7391-3890-8
ISBN-Online: 978-0-7391-3892-2
Publisher: Lexington, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 344
Product type: Edited Book

1. CONTENTS No access
2. DEDICATION No access
3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS No access
4. INTRODUCTION No access
1. 1. Ch01. PUBLIC CHOICES, PRIVATE CONTROL No access
  2. Ch02. NO EXCEPTION POSTPREVENTION No access
  3. Ch03. POLITICIZING PERSONAL CHOICES? No access
2. 1. Ch04. REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM: TRANSFORMINGDISCOURSES OF CHOICE No access
  2. Ch05. THE COMMODIFICATION OFMOTHERHOOD No access
  3. Ch06. LAWS, POLITICS, ANDREPRODUCTIVE CHOICES No access
1. 1. Ch07. MY EYES CRY WITHOUT ME No access
  2. Ch08. TWO WOMEN, TWO STORIES No access
  3. Ch09. THE IN/FERTILE, UN/NATURAL BODY No access
2. 1. Ch10. THE INVISIBLE POLITICS OF“CHOICE” IN THE WORKPLACE No access
  2. Ch11. CUTTING THE MEETING SHORT No access
  3. Ch12. TOTAL MOTHERHOOD AND HAVING IT ALL No access
3. 1. Ch13. PURPOSEFULLYCHILDLESS GOOD WOMEN No access
  2. Ch14. WHAT MEN SAY ABOUT WOMEN No access
  3. Ch15. OUTLAW MOTHERSRAISING GENTLE-MEN No access
INDEX No access Pages 333 - 336
ABOUT THE AUTHORS No access Pages 337 - 344