SOCIOL 2U06 Lecture Notes - Medical Model, Postpartum Depression, Childbirth
Document Summary
New parents by fox ( when the baby comes homd ch 19) Topics covered by sociological research on this issue: Relations between women and medical professionals, and their (usually male) partners and with the larger society during transition to motherhood. Gender differences in the transition to parenthood. Worts and fox: medicalized childbirth (women in t. o in the 90s) Women giving birth in hospitals under the care of a physician. Often with medical intervention: pain meds, surgical intervention. Feminist critique of medicalized childbirth: loss of control for women. Loss of control over their bodies, over their right to choose. Alienates women from something that should be an empowering experience. Define childbirth in a very medical way medical condition which is hazardous. Even though it is a natural process which didn"t require medical intervention always and doesn"t in other parts of the world: women"s emotional well-being overlooked. Western medicine undermines the idea that having a baby involves all facets of a woman.