Becoming a Mother During COVID-19: Adjustments in Performing Motherhood
Based on online semi-structured interviews with middle-class women who were pregnant or had recently given birth in Western Europe (France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland), this study analyses how motherhood has been experienced and performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article ref...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Edinburgh Library
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Medicine Anthropology Theory |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.medanthrotheory.org/article/view/5310 |
| _version_ | 1811265109918482432 |
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| author | Clémence Jullien, Dr Roger Jeffery, Prof. |
| author_facet | Clémence Jullien, Dr Roger Jeffery, Prof. |
| author_sort | Clémence Jullien, Dr |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Based on online semi-structured interviews with middle-class women who were pregnant or had recently given birth in Western Europe (France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland), this study analyses how motherhood has been experienced and performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article reflects on the specific new risk assessments and responsibilities that emerged during the pandemic by showing women’s coping strategies concerning lockdowns and other public health measures. Using a COVID-19 lens also allows a broader analysis of middle-class families’ concerns about performing ‘good motherhood’. By highlighting the discrepancies between women’s expected and actual experiences, the prescriptive aspects of pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum phase are revealed and analysed, prompting us to consider parenting as a form of doing and proving. By underlining the importance attached to the expectant mother’s wellbeing, the partner’s involvement, the support of relatives, and the future socialisation of the baby, we argue that women face a myriad of imperatives to ensure a meaningful experience of motherhood. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:16:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fd1b6bc2adac42c4a5a428056bee5003 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-691X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T20:16:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | University of Edinburgh Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicine Anthropology Theory |
| spelling | doaj.art-fd1b6bc2adac42c4a5a428056bee50032022-12-22T03:18:06ZengUniversity of Edinburgh LibraryMedicine Anthropology Theory2405-691X2022-04-019212810.17157/mat.9.2.53105310Becoming a Mother During COVID-19: Adjustments in Performing MotherhoodClémence Jullien, Dr0Roger Jeffery, Prof.1CEIASUniversity of EdinuburghBased on online semi-structured interviews with middle-class women who were pregnant or had recently given birth in Western Europe (France, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland), this study analyses how motherhood has been experienced and performed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The article reflects on the specific new risk assessments and responsibilities that emerged during the pandemic by showing women’s coping strategies concerning lockdowns and other public health measures. Using a COVID-19 lens also allows a broader analysis of middle-class families’ concerns about performing ‘good motherhood’. By highlighting the discrepancies between women’s expected and actual experiences, the prescriptive aspects of pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum phase are revealed and analysed, prompting us to consider parenting as a form of doing and proving. By underlining the importance attached to the expectant mother’s wellbeing, the partner’s involvement, the support of relatives, and the future socialisation of the baby, we argue that women face a myriad of imperatives to ensure a meaningful experience of motherhood.http://www.medanthrotheory.org/article/view/5310covid-19responsibilitymotherhoodperformancefamily ties |
| spellingShingle | Clémence Jullien, Dr Roger Jeffery, Prof. Becoming a Mother During COVID-19: Adjustments in Performing Motherhood Medicine Anthropology Theory covid-19 responsibility motherhood performance family ties |
| title | Becoming a Mother During COVID-19: Adjustments in Performing Motherhood |
| title_full | Becoming a Mother During COVID-19: Adjustments in Performing Motherhood |
| title_fullStr | Becoming a Mother During COVID-19: Adjustments in Performing Motherhood |
| title_full_unstemmed | Becoming a Mother During COVID-19: Adjustments in Performing Motherhood |
| title_short | Becoming a Mother During COVID-19: Adjustments in Performing Motherhood |
| title_sort | becoming a mother during covid 19 adjustments in performing motherhood |
| topic | covid-19 responsibility motherhood performance family ties |
| url | http://www.medanthrotheory.org/article/view/5310 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT clemencejulliendr becomingamotherduringcovid19adjustmentsinperformingmotherhood AT rogerjefferyprof becomingamotherduringcovid19adjustmentsinperformingmotherhood |