Moral work in women's narratives of breastfeeding

Authors: Ryan, K., Bissell, P. and Alexander, J.

Journal: Social Science and Medicine

Volume: 70

Issue: 6

Pages: 951-958

ISSN: 0277-9536

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.023

Abstract:

Women's narratives of their breastfeeding experiences are sites of construction and reconstruction of self as they undertake moral work in relation to feeding their baby. We engaged Foucault's 'technologies of the self' and his notion of ethics (the relationship with self) to examine that moral work (individual actions rather than adherence to universal moral codes) in relation to women's subjectivity constructed in interviews with 49 women from the UK. Four categories of moral work were identified: biographical preservation, biographical repair, altruism and political action. We describe each of these and conclude that women's embodied experience and sense of self are disciplined within current, limited, often punishing discourses by undertaking painful moral work in order to maintain or repair their subjective positions. We suggest the development of new subject positions around infant feeding practices. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd.

Source: Scopus

Moral work in women's narratives of breastfeeding.

Authors: Ryan, K., Bissell, P. and Alexander, J.

Journal: Soc Sci Med

Volume: 70

Issue: 6

Pages: 951-958

eISSN: 1873-5347

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.023

Abstract:

Women's narratives of their breastfeeding experiences are sites of construction and reconstruction of self as they undertake moral work in relation to feeding their baby. We engaged Foucault's 'technologies of the self' and his notion of ethics (the relationship with self) to examine that moral work (individual actions rather than adherence to universal moral codes) in relation to women's subjectivity constructed in interviews with 49 women from the UK. Four categories of moral work were identified: biographical preservation, biographical repair, altruism and political action. We describe each of these and conclude that women's embodied experience and sense of self are disciplined within current, limited, often punishing discourses by undertaking painful moral work in order to maintain or repair their subjective positions. We suggest the development of new subject positions around infant feeding practices.

Source: PubMed

Moral work in women's narratives of breastfeeding

Authors: Ryan, K., Bissell, P. and Alexander, J.

Journal: SOCIAL SCIENCE & MEDICINE

Volume: 70

Issue: 6

Pages: 951-958

ISSN: 0277-9536

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.023

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Moral work in women's narratives of breastfeeding

Authors: Ryan, K., Bissell, P. and Alexander, J.

Journal: Social Science & Medicine

Volume: 70

Pages: 951-958

ISSN: 0277-9536

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.023

Abstract:

Women’s narratives of their breastfeeding experiences are sites of construction and reconstruction of self as they undertake moral work in relation to feeding their baby. We engaged Foucault’s ‘technologies of the self’ and his notion of ethics (the relationship with self) to examine that moral work (individual actions rather than adherence to universal moral codes) in relation to women’s subjectivity constructed in interviews with 49 women from the UK. Four categories of moral work were identified: biographical preservation, biographical repair, altruism and political action. We describe each of these and conclude that women’s embodied experience and sense of self are disciplined within current, limited, often punishing discourses by undertaking painful moral work in order to maintain or repair their subjective positions. We suggest the development of new subject positions around infant feeding practices.

Source: Manual

Preferred by: Kath Ryan

Moral work in women's narratives of breastfeeding.

Authors: Ryan, K., Bissell, P. and Alexander, J.

Journal: Social science & medicine (1982)

Volume: 70

Issue: 6

Pages: 951-958

eISSN: 1873-5347

ISSN: 0277-9536

DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.023

Abstract:

Women's narratives of their breastfeeding experiences are sites of construction and reconstruction of self as they undertake moral work in relation to feeding their baby. We engaged Foucault's 'technologies of the self' and his notion of ethics (the relationship with self) to examine that moral work (individual actions rather than adherence to universal moral codes) in relation to women's subjectivity constructed in interviews with 49 women from the UK. Four categories of moral work were identified: biographical preservation, biographical repair, altruism and political action. We describe each of these and conclude that women's embodied experience and sense of self are disciplined within current, limited, often punishing discourses by undertaking painful moral work in order to maintain or repair their subjective positions. We suggest the development of new subject positions around infant feeding practices.

Source: Europe PubMed Central