"Mothers by choice, single by chance": A qualitative exploration of becoming a single mother through the use of medically assisted donor insemination

Date
2014-07-09
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Abstract
There has been a rise in recent years in the number of women choosing to have a child without the involvement of a partner. These women, often referred to as ‘single mothers by choice’ or ‘choice mothers’, differ from single mothers who find themselves parenting alone following divorce, separation or unexpected pregnancy. This study delineates the experience of choosing single motherhood utilizing medically assisted donor insemination. I conducted 32 qualitative interviews focused on experiences of mothering and motherhood and reproductive decision-making. A grounded theory analysis revealed that for this sample, these women carefully craft a story to share with others explaining their decision. This story was influenced by the larger social discourses of “good” and “bad” mothering, “good” and “bad” female sexuality. These results give a new face and voice to the single mother, expanding our understanding of postmodern families.
Description
Keywords
Individual and Family Studies, WomenÕs Studies
Citation
Kapell, B. (2014). "Mothers by choice, single by chance": A qualitative exploration of becoming a single mother through the use of medically assisted donor insemination (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27013