The Biomedical Subjectification of Women of Advanced Maternal Age: Reproductive Risk, Privilege, and the Illusion of Control. (June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mann, Emily S.; Berkowitz, Dana
• Is Part Of: Journal of health & social behavior. Volume 64:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 192
• Page End: 208
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Subjects: advanced maternal age -- biomedicalization -- cultural health capital -- intersectionality -- reproduction; Medicine -- Periodicals; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1177/00221465221136252
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1465

Abstract

The United States is experiencing a demographic transition toward older motherhood. Biomedicine classifies pregnancies among all women of advanced maternal age (AMA) as high-risk; paradoxically, women having first births at AMA are typically economically and racially privileged, which can reduce the risk of risks. This article examines the implications of the biomedicalization of AMA for first-time mothers, age 35 and older, using qualitative interviews. We find participants had substantial cultural health capital, which informed their critiques of AMA and the medical model of birth. When they found themselves subjected to biomedical protocols and concerned about reproductive risk as their pregnancies progressed, their subsequent biomedical subjectification compelled most to accept biomedical interventions. Consequently, some participants had traumatic birth experiences. Our findings illustrate that while first-time mothers of AMA anticipated that they would have more control over the birth process because of their advantages, ultimately, most did not.