Between pro-natalist population policy and women’s reproductive rights: The analysis of exposure of the two discourses in press media after 2000

Abstract

The paper is an attempt to assess the exposure of two distinct approaches to reproductive behavior - the claims for reproductive rights and freedoms, and the pro-natalist population policy - in the press media in Serbia after 2000. The first approach is grounded on the principle of self-determination in respect to reproductive behavior, whereas the second attempts to modify reproductive behavior so that a higher goal of the survival of Serbian nation is achieved. The two approaches have clear and contradictory policy implications. In the first part of the paper two discourses are constructed based on relevant declarations and other publications by the proponents of the two discourses. In the second part, by the means of a descriptive quantitative analysis, we assess the frequency and the coherence of the discourses in the articles published in Blic, Kurir, Vreme and Nin. The questions we attempt to answer are: To what extent interested pressure groups get to place the elements of their agendas in the press? To what extent these groups manage to frame public discussions and to dominate the instances of media coverage with their own imagery and rhetoric? .

Stigma and in Vitro Fertilization: Perception of Women With Ivf Experience

“…Women's identification with the (gender) role of the mother has been confirmed by research on motivation for parenthood which involves women undergoing the IVF process (Kričković Pele 2014). Moreover, the influence of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which promotes the revival of the Serbian nation and emphasizes the role of women in contribution to the birth rate, cannot be overlooked (Đorić and Gavrilović 2006). Based on all of the above, it can be said that the requirements and expectations placed on women in the reproductive context are numerous.…”

“…This paper will present the results of research in which the respondents were women with IVF experience. In relation to the social construction of reproduction, procreation and parenthood and women's roles in it (Whitford and Gonzalez 1995;Remennick 2000;Đorić and Gavrilović 2006;Yeshua-Katz 2017;Faccio et al 2019) we explored the stigma of perceiving those that 'do not fit in the existing pattern' -How women with IVF experience perceive and interpret the stigma related to IVF? In order to reduce stigma exposure, the participants in the IVF procedure can decide whether and to what extent they will reveal about it to others and potentially expose themselves to stigma.…”