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Motherhood in the Context of Normative Discourse: Birth Stories of Mothers of Children with Down Syndrome

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Abstract

Using birth stories as our object of inquiry, this article examines the ways in which normative discourses about gender, disability and Down syndrome construct the birth stories of three mothers of children with Down syndrome. Their stories are composed of the mothers’ recollections of the first hours after birth as a time when their infants are separated from them and their postpartum needs are ignored. Together, their stories illustrate socio-cultural tropes that position Down syndrome as a dangerous form of the “other” and mothers who give birth to children with Down syndrome as implicated in transgressing cultural norms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Teacher Education Division, College of Education, Wayne State University, 289 Education Building, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Susan L. Gabel

  2. National Louis University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Kathy Kotel

Authors
  1. Susan L. Gabel
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  2. Kathy Kotel
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Correspondence to Susan L. Gabel.

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There were no sources of funding or conflicts of interest for this research. Informed consent of participants was gained prior to starting the research. A university review board approved the research as ethical.

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Gabel, S.L., Kotel, K. Motherhood in the Context of Normative Discourse: Birth Stories of Mothers of Children with Down Syndrome. J Med Humanit 39, 179–193 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-015-9367-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-015-9367-z

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