SOCIOL 2U06 Study Guide - Final Guide: Postpartum Depression, Sociology Of The Family, Childbirth
Document Summary
Sociological research on parenting transition to motherhood and parenthood varies cross culturally and historically. Sociological research tells us: social context - birth and parenthood is not just about biology we have to look at social relations between women and medical professionals, women and their partners. Sociological research puts a emphasis on social support and especially in respect to postpartum depression. Social support is important in labour and delivery processes. Gender differences in the transition to parenthood. Social organization of mothering - women take primary responsibility to caregiving in a privatized context - they lack social support. Medicalized childbirth (fox and worts) giving birth in hospitals, medical intervention (ie. drugs for pain) Argues that having doctors supervise a woman"s pregnancy essentially decreases women"s control over their bodies and the entire process. Critique argues that: medicalized childbirth ultimately alienates women from something that is actually an empowering experience.