Abstract
The emergence of qualitative inquiry into reproduction has gone hand in hand with broader methodological debates in the social and health sciences on the one hand, and with the ups and downs of feminism as a social, political and intellectual movement on the other. Although men's health has also emerged as an important field (Pease, 2000a, b; Annandale, 2008), this chapter focuses on women's distinctive life experiences with regard to fertility and childbearing. A wide range of qualitative studies has now explored the social and personal significance of practices associated with menstruation, conception, infertility, abortion, pregnancy and birth, motherhood and menopause. Most importantly, qualitative evidence has been central to the politics of making health services more gender-sensitive and equitable. In debates on the management of childbirth and menopause for example, qualitative research has been drawn on to challenge the hegemony of the biomedical paradigm institutionalized in health policies and institutions (e.g., Oakley, 1979; Davis-Floyd, 1992; Liamputtong Rice, 1995; Liamputtong, 2005, 2007a, b; Reiger, 2001, 2006). At the same time, interpretative research remains contested, both at the intellectual level by debates around modernist/postmodernist approaches and politically, by differences of opinion concerning how to interpret and manage women's reproductive rights. Reproductive health is likely to remain controversial, simply because of its considerable political, economic and social importance. It involves a major social investment in both the present and future generations, and reproductive experiences are deeply felt at the personal level. Policy-makers, researchers, health professionals and research participants thus bring quite disparate interests, experiences and viewpoints to undertaking and using qualitative research.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Sage Handbook of Qualitative Methods in Health Research |
Editors | Ivy Bourgeault, Robert Dingwall, Raymond de Vries |
Place of Publication | U.K. |
Publisher | Sage |
Pages | 641-658 |
Number of pages | 18 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781446268247 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781446270431 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2010 |
Keywords
- reproduction
- health and hygiene
- men's health