Researching reproduction qualitatively : intersections of personal and political

Kerreen Reiger, Pranee Liamputtong

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperChapter

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 languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSage Handbook of Qualitative Methods in Health Research
EditorsIvy Bourgeault, Robert Dingwall, Raymond de Vries
Place of PublicationU.K.
PublisherSage
Pages641-658
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9781446268247
ISBN (Print)9781446270431
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • reproduction
  • health and hygiene
  • men's health

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