Misconception : social class and infertility in America / Ann V. Bell.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bell, Ann V., 1980- author.

Series:

Families in focus.

Families in Focus

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Infertility, Female--United States.

Infertility, Female.

Fertility, Human--United States.

Fertility, Human.

Poor women--United States.

Poor women.

Social classes--United States.

Social classes.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (180 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New Brunswick, New Jersey : Rutgers University Press, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Despite the fact that, statistically, women of low socioeconomic status (SES) experience greater difficulty conceiving children, infertility is generally understood to be a wealthy, white woman's issue. In Misconception, Ann V. Bell overturns such historically ingrained notions of infertility by examining the experiences of poor women and women of color. These women, so the stereotype would have it, are simply too fertile. The fertility of affluent and of poor women is perceived differently, and these perceptions have political and social consequences, as social policies have entrenched these ideas throughout U.S. history. Through fifty-eight in-depth interviews with women of both high and low SES, Bell begins to break down the stereotypes of infertility and show how such depictions consequently shape women's infertility experiences. Prior studies have relied solely on participants recruited from medical clinics-a sampling process that inherently skews the participant base toward wealthier white women with health insurance. In comparing class experiences, Misconception goes beyond examining medical experiences of infertility to expose the often overlooked economic and classist underpinnings of reproduction, family, motherhood, and health in contemporary America. Watch a video with Ann V. Bell: Watch video now. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz7qiPyuyiM).

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Conceiving Infertility

1. "That's What I'M Supposed To Be": Why Women Want To Mother

2. "I'M Good At The Job": How Women Achieve "Good" Motherhood

3. "Getting Pregnant's A Piece Of Cake": Trying To Mother

4. "Socioeconomically It Would Be Much More Difficult": The Lived Experience Of Infertility

5. "Whatever Gets Me To The End Point": Resolving Infertility

6. "So What Can You Do?": Coping With Infertility

Conclusion: (Re)Conceiving Infertility

Appendix: Methodology

Notes

References

Index

About The Author

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-8135-6481-6

OCLC:

891591008