Sociology for Midwives by Kingdon Carol;

Author:Kingdon, Carol;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sociology, Midwifery, Research Methods, Body, Family, Sociological Theory, Profession, Public Health, Feminism, Media, Health, Medicine
ISBN: 1822921
Publisher: Andrews UK Ltd.
Published: 2014-09-22T00:00:00+00:00

New reproductive technologies now offer exceptional ways of constructing parenthood and families, for example through gamete donation, donor insemination and gestational surrogacy (Hargreaves, 2006). Nevertheless, a study of families with children conceived by donor insemination in New Zealand found that despite the apparent diversity of family forms evident in modern societies today, Western culture ‘continues to privilege biological ties, to uphold the “ideal” of the biological nuclear family and conceptualise biological parents as the “real” parents, [thus] the role of the donor in the child’s make-up cannot be ignored’ (Hargreaves, 2006: 280). In addition, a study involving women who used assisted conceptive techniques beyond the menopause reports that they worried about the message their success sends to other women for whom delaying childbirth may lead to involuntary childlessness (Friese et al, 2006).

There is an increasing body of feminist writing on women’s experiences of maternity and motherhood that fall outside conventional representations of mothering and motherhood. The terminology used to capture these women’s experiences is problematic (Letherby, 1994). Nevertheless Throsby (2004) usefully includes in this field studies of those who have chosen to live without children, experience involuntary childlessness, surrogacy, adoption, parenting children with disabilities, pregnancy loss and/or ‘bad’ mothering.

Midwives encounter these aspects of ‘other’ and ‘non-motherhood’ in a variety of forms. For example, midwives who care for women who experience miscarriage or stillbirth, or women whose infants are legally removed from them immediately after birth. Moreover, in an occupation dominated by women, it is to be expected that some midwives will have personal experience of ‘other’ mothering or non-motherhood. The Office of Population Census and Surveys predicts that 22% of women born between around 1980 will remain childless (ONS, 2003). However, as identified by Porter et al (2006), fewer babies are being born across Europe but more are being born by Caesarean section. This fundamental change in how many babies are born arguably necessitates a reduction in family size. Midwives may wish to consider to what extent smaller families and increased childlessness reflects changes in the nature (and women’s perceptions) of birth or what sociologists have identified as a trend towards more ‘chosen families’.

Conclusion

This chapter has introduced midwives to sociological perspectives on the family and feminist perspectives on mothering and motherhood. It has highlighted the increasing diversity of family structures in contemporary society and women’s greater involvement in paid employment. This chapter has challenged what it means to be a ‘mother.’ Most midwives see expectant or new mothers every day of their working lives. Moreover, many midwives are privileged to share the actual moment of birth with women regularly. However, it is naïve to view giving birth to a baby as the defining characteristic of what it means to be a mother. This chapter has also identified that science and medicine perhaps present the greatest opportunities and the greatest challenge to what it means to be a mother today.

References

Allan G, Crow G (2001) Families, Households and Society. Palgrave, Basingstoke

Baker PL, Carson A (1999) ‘I take care of my kids’: Mothering practices of substance-abusing women.

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