"Well, I'm going to have a baby": Navigating Safety, Stakeholders, and Strategy in Workplace Pregnancy Disclosures. Issue 4 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Billotte Verhoff, China; Buzzanell, Patrice M.
• Is Part Of: Communication studies. Volume 73:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 425
• Page End: 440
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: Disclosure -- privacy -- pregnancy -- motherhood -- stigma; Communication -- Periodicals; Oratory -- Periodicals; 302.205
• DOI: 10.1080/10510974.2022.2097720
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1051-0974

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study explores how 92 women disclosed their pregnancies in the workplace. Examining workplace pregnancy disclosure broadly rather than taking a dyadic approach (e.g. employee to supervisor) highlighted tensions and outcomes associated with simultaneously navigating disclosures to multiple colleagues and supervisors. Data analysis revealed four themes: (b) timing safely, (c) diffusing selectively, (d) controlling gatherings, and (e) crafting conversational tones. Findings situate workplace pregnancy disclosure as a dynamic multi-stakeholder process. Women's accounts suggest that risk is understood as linked to potential future disclosures and the importance of emotion in crafting disclosure interactions.