Postpartum mood disorders : a feminist critique with specific reference to postnatal depression

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This review examines the medical model's conceptualisation of postnatal depression(pND) from a feminist perspective. The arguments are fourfold: Firstly, it argues thatthe fundamental problem underlying the concept of PND is its conception as existingon a continuum with psychosis at the most severe end and maternity blues at the leastsevere end. The link with psychosis implies that it is potentially pathological requiringmedical and psychiatric intervention. On the other hand its link with maternity bluesgives scientific credence to continued research on emotional sequelae of reproductionthat are below the psychiatric threshold of urgency. Secondly, the medical model'sconstruction of PND implies that women are predisposed to mental illness because oftheir ability to bear children and thus pathologises normal experiences of childbirth.Thirdly, the medical model's preoccupation with classification and categorisation hasbecome little more than an exercise in labeling that has removed women from theirown experiences. Focusing on birth as an activity that is separate from the rest ofpregnancy objectify women and ignores the socio-political context within which theygive birth and care for their infants. Fourthly, it is argued that a different way ofresearching postpartum mood disorders is necessary to overcome a reductionistic andpathological model of childbirth. This is important if healthcare delivery hopes toprovide adequate treatment for all women in the postnatal period. Especially in SouthAfrica, where the dominant culture has for many years defined the experiences of the'other', it is important to generate research that should include the 'voices' of the'other' to prevent hegemonic practice from assuming an expert understanding ofPND. This review does not deny the contributions from the medical establishment,but argues that a critique of its underlying assumptions is important to prevent womenfrom being further marginalised by ignoring the socio-political context in which theirlives are embedded. The implications for research within South Africa are alsoaddressed.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University