Health New Media Res > Volume 2(1); 2018 > Article
Health & New Media Research 2018;2(1):3-34.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22720/HNMR.2017.2.1.003    Published online March 31, 2018.
Fictional Film and Television Representations of (in)fertility Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes: Restitution Narratives and the ‘Faulted Female Body’ Myth
Bethany Johnson1, Margaret M. Quinlan2
1Department of Communication Studies, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
2Department of Communication Studies, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Correspondence:  Bethany Johnson,
Email: bjohn184@uncc.edu
Abstract
This manuscript analyzes films and television (TV) portraying (in)fertility, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. A qualitative thematic analysis revealed that television series and films narratively resolve (in)fertility utilizing myths. Findings indicate that all TV shows and films in our study presented at least one derivation of an (in)fertility myth. We identified this overarching infertility myth as “the faulted female body” (FFB), with three derivations: structural failure (e.g., t-shaped uterus), mental failure (e.g., “overthinking” about conception) and hyperfertility (as a racist construct). The utility of FFB in allowing restitution of story arcs is not reflective of off-screen experiences for viewers dealing with (in)fertility issues. The manuscript unpacks the FFB myth with Silverman’s (2015) method of consciousness raising (CR) to correct popular media representations of embodied reproductive myths.
Key Words: Infertility, Fertility, Gender Myths, Racial Myths, Restitution Narrative, Consciousness Raising
TOOLS
METRICS Graph View
  • 0 Crossref
  •  0 Scopus
  • 181 View
  • 6 Download
Related articles


Editorial Office
1 Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
Tel: +82-33-248-3255    E-mail: hnmr@hallym.ac.kr                

Copyright © 2024 by Health & New Media Research Institute.

Developed in M2PI