The medicalization of motherhood in Belarusian media

Abstract

Motherhood has been traditionally viewed as the culmination of the biological purpose of women, a fulfilment of their life’s destiny. These views have come under sustained attack from some quarters, with such an approach being seen as a form of domination that is reproduced in various forms, allowing a continuation of male domination in society and frustration of feminist goals for full equality. This article seeks to trace the reproduction of such a discourse in media sources in Belarus. In this context, the medicalization of motherhood in Belarusian media can be seen not only as part of the general medicalization of society but also as an ideological strategy in the struggle for power and influence in the country. The author tries to understand which representative strategies can be interpreted as medicalization of motherhood, how they are included in different power discourses and why in the medical discourse some types of motherhood are legitimated and the other are denied or stigmatised as unacceptable. The analysis of two Belarusian newspapers shows that the strategy of medicalization is used for implementation of different ideologies. The dichotomy between ‘normal’ and ‘abnormal’ motherhood that is constructed as medical categories in media discourse serves both the interests of the Belarusian state and the marketing of medicine services. Both of them are interested in rational motherhood from the economic point of view. As such, all types of motherhood that are not of benefit to the state or the market are effectively stigmatised and presented as undesirable. Motherhood is portrayed as a personal choice of women that must be done ‘correctly’ or ‘responsibly’. Such an approach leaves a great deal of questions unasked and unanswered as to who should decide this. It also does much to reinforce and strengthen the existing gender order in Belarus.