Constructing motherhood: How multi-ethnic women navigate cultural expectations of pregnancy and postpartum emotions

This dissertation research explores aspects of the social construction of motherhood among low-income, multi-ethnic women in Dallas, Texas. Multiple cultural models of pregnancy and motherhood are encountered by a sample of 30 women during prenatal care, birth and postpartum. The various ways in which women negotiate differing expectations from biomedical care and their own cultural values are analyzed. Expectations concerning postpartum maternal emotions and how "good" mothers "should" feel are examined within the context of postpartum sadness and seeking care for possible depression. Ambiguities in the identification and diagnosing of postpartum depression is elaborated through thematic analysis of interviews from 15 healthcare practitioners, who include postpartum women in their practice. The shaping of women's experiences through the construction of a sense of place is suggested through discussion of the history of the research setting and the realities concerning financing healthcare for the poor. Interpretation of thematic analysis is accomplished through use of a critical theoretical approach. Conclusions from this research suggests ways in which various factors in women's experiences create increased structural vulnerability. Dominant cultural ideologies, social norms and diagnostic ambiguity are presented as forms of structural violence that shape women's reproductive experiences.