Motherhood and popular television

Feasey, R (2015) Motherhood and popular television. In: Womb to World: Birthlight Conference, 19 September 2015, University of Cambridge, UK.

Abstract

Representations of motherhood and motherwork have the power and scope to foreground culturally accepted familial relations and provide ‘common sense’ understandings about appropriate, inappropriate, acceptable and other maternal behaviors for a contemporary audience. And although it is important that we examine those representations of motherhood and motherwork that dominate the contemporary media landscape, and consider the ways in which these depictions relate to the wider social, sexual, political and economic context, it is crucial that we understand the ways in which mothers from the television audience read such texts and relate them to their lived experiences. With this in mind, this paper will draw on the findings of questionnaires and focus group discussions with expectant, new and experienced mothers in order to discover the ways in which these women find pleasure, empowerment, escapist fantasy, displeasure and frustration from popular depictions of mothers and consider the ways in which such responses inform their own maternal thoughts and practices.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Note:	This 6th Birthlight Cambridge Womb to World day conference aims to bring together a cross-section of researchers, medical and lay practitioners, artists and mothers for exploring and reflecting on the power of maternal imaginings on the experience of transition to motherhood in an increasingly visual and media-dominated world.
Divisions:	Bath School of Art, Film and Media
Date Deposited:	22 Jul 2015 10:57
Last Modified:	06 Jan 2022 19:40
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/6240

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