Women’s embodied experiences of second trimester medical abortion

Purcell, C. , Brown, A., Melville, C. and McDaid, L. M. (2017) Women’s embodied experiences of second trimester medical abortion. Feminism and Psychology, 27(2), pp. 163-185. (doi: 10.1177/0959353517692606) (PMID:28546655) (PMCID:PMC5431358)

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Abstract

Abortions in general, and second trimester abortions in particular, are experiences which in many contexts have limited sociocultural visibility. Research on second trimester abortion worldwide has focused on a range of associated factors including risks and acceptability of abortion methods, and characteristics and decision-making of women seeking the procedure. Scholarship to date has not adequately addressed the embodied physicality of second trimester abortion, from the perspective of women’s lived experiences, nor how these experiences might inform future framings of abortion. To progress understandings of women’s embodied experiences of second trimester abortion, we draw on the accounts of 18 women who had recently sought second trimester abortion in Scotland. We address four aspects of their experiences: later recognition of pregnancy; experiences of a second trimester pregnancy which ended in abortion; the “labour” of second trimester abortion; and the subsequent bodily transition. The paper has two key aims: Firstly, to make visible these experiences, and to consider how they relate to dominant sociocultural narratives of pregnancy; and secondly, to explore the concept of “liminality” as one means for interpreting them. Our findings contribute to informing future research, policy and practice around second trimester abortion. They highlight the need to maintain efforts to reduce silences around abortion and improve equity of access.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:McDaid, Professor Lisa and Purcell, Dr Carrie
Authors: Purcell, C., Brown, A., Melville, C., and McDaid, L. M.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:Feminism and Psychology
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:0959-3535
ISSN (Online):1461-7161
Published Online:01 January 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Authors
First Published:First published in Feminism and Psychology 27(2): 163-185
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
727631Social Relationships & Health ImprovementLisa McDaidMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/11HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit