title: Beyond the Bump: Women's Experiences of Body Image during Pregnancy and in the Postpartum

authors: Large, Zoë

subjects: Body image

abstract: Body image is an important aspect of identity, with body image dissatisfaction related to many negative experiences such as depression and low self-esteem. Pregnancy is a time of rapid and substantial change for women’s bodies, yet it is not well understood how body image is experienced either during pregnancy or in the postpartum. Given that body image dissatisfaction is more prevalent among women than men, it is important to consider this important life transition and the way body image may be experienced.

Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted among women either in late pregnancy or in the first year postpartum to explore their experiences of body image during and after pregnancy. Thematic analysis resulted in six major themes, which encapsulate the variety of experiences among women. 

There is variation among women’s experiences that is influenced by a range of other factors. Most women felt overall positively about their bodies during pregnancy, but there were some negative aspects and different experiences. In the postpartum, most women were dissatisfied with their bodies, although the importance of this differed. Factors that influenced the way women felt included the transition to motherhood, the media, and past/present social interactions.

This exploratory study provides insight into the way 16 women experienced body image through pregnancy and the postpartum to contribute to this relatively limited research area. Many areas for future study have been identified.

text: Beyond the Bump: Women's Experiences of Body Image during Pregnancy and in the Postpartum Body image is an important aspect of identity, with body image dissatisfaction related to many negative experiences such as depression and low self-esteem. Pregnancy is a time of rapid and substantial change for women’s bodies, yet it is not well understood how body image is experienced either during pregnancy or in the postpartum. Given that body image dissatisfaction is more prevalent among women than men, it is important to consider this important life transition and the way body image may be experienced.

Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted among women either in late pregnancy or in the first year postpartum to explore their experiences of body image during and after pregnancy. Thematic analysis resulted in six major themes, which encapsulate the variety of experiences among women. 

There is variation among women’s experiences that is influenced by a range of other factors. Most women felt overall positively about their bodies during pregnancy, but there were some negative aspects and different experiences. In the postpartum, most women were dissatisfied with their bodies, although the importance of this differed. Factors that influenced the way women felt included the transition to motherhood, the media, and past/present social interactions.

This exploratory study provides insight into the way 16 women experienced body image through pregnancy and the postpartum to contribute to this relatively limited research area. Many areas for future study have been identified.

year: 2016

title: Forever young: Childhoods, fairy tales and philosophy

authors: Tesar, Marek

subjects: childhood

abstract: Fairy tales play a substantial role in the shaping of childhoods. Developed into stories and played out in picture books, films and tales, they are powerful instruments that influence conceptions and treatments of the child and childhoods. This article argues that traditional fairy tales and contemporary stories derived from them use complex means to mould the ways that children live and experience their childhoods. This argument is illustrated through representations of childhoods and children in a selection of stories and an analysis of the ways they act on and produce the child subjects and childhoods they convey. The selected stories are examined through different philosophical lenses, utilizing Foucault, Lyotard and Rousseau. By problematizing these selected stories, the article analyses what lies beneath the surface of the obvious meanings of the text and enticing pictures in stories, as published or performed. Finally, this article argues for a careful recognition of the complexities of stories used in early childhood settings and their powerful and multifaceted influences on children and childhoods.

text: Forever young: Childhoods, fairy tales and philosophy Fairy tales play a substantial role in the shaping of childhoods. Developed into stories and played out in picture books, films and tales, they are powerful instruments that influence conceptions and treatments of the child and childhoods. This article argues that traditional fairy tales and contemporary stories derived from them use complex means to mould the ways that children live and experience their childhoods. This argument is illustrated through representations of childhoods and children in a selection of stories and an analysis of the ways they act on and produce the child subjects and childhoods they convey. The selected stories are examined through different philosophical lenses, utilizing Foucault, Lyotard and Rousseau. By problematizing these selected stories, the article analyses what lies beneath the surface of the obvious meanings of the text and enticing pictures in stories, as published or performed. Finally, this article argues for a careful recognition of the complexities of stories used in early childhood settings and their powerful and multifaceted influences on children and childhoods.

year: 2016

title: Anti-racism Allyship Amongst Psychologists and Students in Psychology Training in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Tan, Kyle K. H.

abstract: Racism is a well-established social determinant of health, impacting Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, few scholarly studies have focused on racial justice allyship in Aotearoa, particularly within the psychology discipline. This study examines demographic and attitudinal factors associated with anti-racism allyship among psychologists and students in psychology training amidst escalating racist rhetoric and opposition to Māori self-determination in Aotearoa. Drawing data from an online anonymous survey (n = 280), we assessed participants’ responses on three scales: 1) Attitudes towards aspects of Māori (taha Māori); 2) Attitudes towards acknowledging the existence of racism and settler colonialism 3) Anti-racist allyship. Certain demographic groups (Pākehā, Asian, older-aged, male, or those who entered training decades ago) scored lower on these scales, indicating the need for targeted training. Regression analyses showed both ‘Attitudes towards taha Māori’ and ‘Attitudes towards racism and colonisation’ scales were significantly correlated with anti-racist allyship. Our findings call for a sustained investment in training anti-racist psychologists who are competent in providing culturally safe care and capable of challenging racial injustices. Future research is required on the development of a racial justice allyship model across all institutions that train, employ and regulate psychologists in Aotearoa that is informed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

text: Anti-racism Allyship Amongst Psychologists and Students in Psychology Training in Aotearoa New Zealand Racism is a well-established social determinant of health, impacting Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. However, few scholarly studies have focused on racial justice allyship in Aotearoa, particularly within the psychology discipline. This study examines demographic and attitudinal factors associated with anti-racism allyship among psychologists and students in psychology training amidst escalating racist rhetoric and opposition to Māori self-determination in Aotearoa. Drawing data from an online anonymous survey (n = 280), we assessed participants’ responses on three scales: 1) Attitudes towards aspects of Māori (taha Māori); 2) Attitudes towards acknowledging the existence of racism and settler colonialism 3) Anti-racist allyship. Certain demographic groups (Pākehā, Asian, older-aged, male, or those who entered training decades ago) scored lower on these scales, indicating the need for targeted training. Regression analyses showed both ‘Attitudes towards taha Māori’ and ‘Attitudes towards racism and colonisation’ scales were significantly correlated with anti-racist allyship. Our findings call for a sustained investment in training anti-racist psychologists who are competent in providing culturally safe care and capable of challenging racial injustices. Future research is required on the development of a racial justice allyship model across all institutions that train, employ and regulate psychologists in Aotearoa that is informed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

year: 2025