IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/socres/v26y2021i1p75-91.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

‘I Think I Stick Out a Bit’: The Classification of Reproductive Decision-Making

Author

Listed:
  • Kristina Saunders

Abstract

This article provides an empirical insight into the operation of neoliberal, postfeminist, and middle-class norms which intersect to classify reproduction as imperative for some women, while for ‘others’ it is classified as inappropriate and in need of regulation. This valuation constructs an idealized reproductive citizen and a hierarchy of decisions about having children, while the inequalities and different material conditions that structure reproductive decisions and trajectories are ignored. This article will therefore demonstrate how the middle-class, neoliberal, and postfeminist subject of value operates in relation to reproduction in a social, political, and gendered context that emphasizes choice, individual responsibility, and self-investment and future planning. However, evidence of resistance to classification will also be shown, which provides an insight into how this valued reproductive citizen is negotiated.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristina Saunders, 2021. "‘I Think I Stick Out a Bit’: The Classification of Reproductive Decision-Making," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 26(1), pages 75-91, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:26:y:2021:i:1:p:75-91
    DOI: 10.1177/1360780420909139
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1360780420909139
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/1360780420909139?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:26:y:2021:i:1:p:75-91. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.