"It is not the end of my life": positive identity (re)constructions among young mothers in rural South-Western Nigeria
"It is not the end of my life": positive identity (re)constructions among young mothers in rural South-Western Nigeria
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DOI:
10.1080/02673843.2023.2301579
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发表时间:
2024-12-31
影响因子:
4.5
通讯作者:
Hoggart,Lesley
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Oluseye,Ayomide;Waterhouse,Philippa;Hoggart,Lesley
Social norms around the timing of motherhood mean that young mothers are often viewed as different and negatively stereotyped. Drawing on data from South-Western Nigeria, this paper explores unmarried young women’s identity (re)construction in the context of the negative societal representations of young motherhood. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 young mothers, using photo-elicitation as a complementary method. The results revealed that despite facing social stigma, some young mothers were able to challenge negative societal stereotypes, reframe the challenges they faced as mothers and construct positive maternal identities for themselves. Our findings offer insights into the complex interplay between stigma and identity formation and provide recommendations for sustainable interventions and social support to empower young mothers in Nigeria.