Article
Anticipatory Socialization of Pregnant Women: Learning Fetal Sex and Gendered Interactions
Sociological Perspectives
(2015)
Abstract
Although doctors still frequently call out “It’s a girl!” when a baby girl is born, the majority
of mothers now use ultrasound to find out the sex months earlier. This study examines how
women who learn the sex of their fetus before birth are engaging in gendered verbal interactions
throughout pregnancy. These include types of conversations, usage of gendered pronouns, and
calling the unborn baby by a given name. These changes in behaviors by pregnant woman once
fetal sex is known can be seen as a form of anticipatory socialization, as they begin to practice
the behaviors and values associated with the role of being either a mother of a son or mother
of a daughter. Findings also discuss general differences between mothers who choose to find
out fetal sex and those who choose not to. The research is based on in-depth interviews with
middle-class mothers in the United States.
Keywords
- Socialization,
- gender,
- pregnancy,
- ultrasound
Disciplines
Publication Date
Summer June, 2015
DOI
10.1177/0731121414564883
Citation Information
Medora W. Barnes. "Anticipatory Socialization of Pregnant Women: Learning Fetal Sex and Gendered Interactions" Sociological Perspectives Vol. 58 Iss. 2 (2015) p. 187 - 203 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/medora_barnes/12/