“For some people it isn’t a choice, it’s just how it happens”: Accounts of “delayed” motherhood among middle-class women in the UK

Abstract

Citation: Budds K, Locke A and Burr V (2016) "For some people it isn't a choice, it's just how it happens": Accounts of 'delayed' motherhood among middle-class women in the UK. Feminism and Psychology. 26(2): 170-187. Copyright statement: © 2016The Authors. Full-text reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.Article "For some people it isn't a choice, it's just how it happens": Accounts of 'delayed' motherhood among middle-class women in the UK. Kirsty BuddsSchool of Psychology, Keele University, UK Abigail LockeFaculty of Social Sciences, University of Bradford, UK Vivien Burr School of Human and Health Sciences, University of Huddersfield, UK AbstractOver the past few decades the number of women having their first babies over the age of 35 in the United Kingdom (UK) has increased. Women's timing of motherhood is invariably bound up with a discourse of 'choice' and in this paper we consider the role choice plays in the timing of motherhood among women who have been defined as 'older' mothers. This article is based on data from 11 semi-structured interviews that explored the transition to motherhood among 'older' middle-class mothers. The interviews were analysed using critical discursive psychology. The women drew upon two dominant repertoires when making sense of their timing of motherhood. Within the first repertoire, 'older motherhood as circumstance', older motherhood was presented as the outcome of life circumstances beyond their control, with a lack of the 'right' circumstances facilitating 'delayed' motherhood. Within the second repertoire, 'older motherhood as readiness', women constructed themselves as (now) prepared for motherhood. 'Readiness' was bound up with notions of self-fulfillment, yet also assessments of their ability to be 'good' mothers. We conclude that, far from a straightforward choice, the timing of motherhood is shaped by cultural definitions of the 'right' circumstances for parenthood, but also cultural definitions of 'good' motherhood, which may define when women are 'ready'.

“Freedom of speech requires actions”: Exploring the discourse of politicians convicted of hate‐speech against Muslims

“…Indeed, the discursive psychological (Potter, 1996) perspective allows me to analyze the discursive strategies that the politicians deploy in their anti-Muslim political discourse: first, its epistemological orientation, that is, the ways in which the politicians seek to construct their own statements as commonsensical, factual and credible; and second, its action-orientation, or the ways in which the accounts are constructed to achieve particular outcomes (Augoustinos, LeCouteur, & Soyland, 2002). The critical discursive perspective combines "micro" and "macro" perspectives on discourse, and takes into account both the constitutive role of discourse-how culturally available discourses enable and constrain individuals' social action, and its constructive role-how individuals use it in order to achieve particular social outcomes (Budds, Locke, & Burr, 2016). Accordingly, it allows me to explore the culturally available resources that the politicians utilize in their discourse, and how these discursive patterns enable certain subject positions (Davies & Harr e, 1990) that the politicians can claim or resist.…”

Vivência de mulheres na gestação em idade tardia

“…Regarding the maturity, studies show that this is one of the greatest advantages of maternity in an advanced age. The already developed life experience implies greater security and a sense of competence in the care of a child (1,5) .…”

“…Some factors, such as the increase of the female insertion in the labor market, longer study time among women and improvements in contraceptive methods have contributed to this phenomenon. In addition, it is possible to mention the pro-women movements, active since the mid-1970s, helping women achieve their rights and freedom, including the exercise of their own sexuality (1) .…”

“Never Say Never?” Heterosexual, Bisexual, and Lesbian Women’s Accounts of Being Childfree

“…Given the dominance of pronatalism, by their mid-30s women are likely to be able to reflect on their identities and reproductive lives. This is particularly the case given that the average age of first time mothers in the U.K. is 28 years, and that women are encouraged to have children before they reach the age of 35 years, at which point they become defined as "older mothers" by medical practitioners (Budds, Locke, & Burr, 2016). Due to the contentious nature of childfree terminology, recruitment materials invited participation from women who "identified as choosing to be childfree/childless (whichever term you prefer)."…”

“…Whilst parenting has arguably become, to some extent, construed as a choice, little research has focused on heterosexual women's choice to become mothers, perhaps because they are seldom held to account for their decision in the ways that childfree women are (see Sevón, 2005). Heterosexual women's decisions on when to become mothers has been explored (e.g., Budds et al, 2016;Perrier, 2013;Sevón, 2005). Women's accounts of "delayed" parenthood have also been marked by ambivalence and they may encounter discourses similar to childfree women, although in particular and nuanced ways.…”