TELEVISION NEWS COVERAGE OF POSTPARTUM DISORDERS AND THE POLITICS OF MEDICALIZATION Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This article argues that although postpartum disorders can potentially disrupt the hegemonic discourse of essential/good motherhood, as represented in television news, such disorders are domesticated by the use of news routines and are defined as "real" diseases that are temporary disruptions in women's natural ability to mother. This understanding of postpartum disorders not only engages in a process of medicalizing what is often a social problem, but also reifies a particularly harmful understanding of motherhood. Television news coverage exemplifies the problematic ideological baggage attached to the diagnoses of postpartum depression and psychosis, and demonstrates the need for more diverse reporting of women's health issues. 2010 Taylor & Francis.

published proceedings

  • FEMINIST MEDIA STUDIES

author list (cited authors)

  • Dubriwny, T. N.

citation count

  • 9

complete list of authors

  • Dubriwny, Tasha N

publication date

  • January 2010