Palmer, Julie. (2009) the placental body in 4D : everyday practices of non-diagnostic sonography. Feminist Review, Vol.93 (No.1). pp. 64-80. ISSN 0141-7789

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Feminist scholars have long argued that the pregnant body is erased – both literally and discursively – from mainstream foetal representations. Janemaree Maher argues that the placenta, as point of distinction and connection between pregnant women and foetuses, has the radical potential to refigure understandings of pregnant embodiment and subjectivity, and offer ‘a way to begin thinking through the impasse of pregnant representation’. Drawing on Maher's notion of the ‘placental body’, this article will examine the place of the placenta in the practice of non-diagnostic 4D ultrasound scanning. The analysis seeks to connect Maher's theoretical perspective, and the rich feminist literature around foetal imaging, with observational data from my study of 4D scans. I will argue that the capacity of 3- and 4D sonography to image the placenta and umbilical cord in a way that is newly intelligible to lay viewers might present an opportunity for thinking differently about the interconnections – material and social – between pregnant women and foetuses and to relocate women as the subjects of their pregnancies.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Pregnancy, Fetus -- Imaging , Ultrasonic imaging, Three-dimensional imaging in medicine, Placenta
Journal or Publication Title:	Feminist Review
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan
ISSN:	0141-7789
Date:	November 2009
Volume:	Vol.93
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	pp. 64-80
Identification Number:	10.1057/fr.2009.24
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/37307

Request changes to a record

Actions (login required)

View Item