Construction of Motherhood in Social Media: Representation, Expectations and Self-Conception in the Light of Self-professionalization

该研究项目旨在通过社会建构主义的方法来理解社会角色的意义的产生--这里是与母亲有关的。在数字化社会中，研究假设母亲的形象是由媒体构建的。因此，它不仅影响“哑剧演员”的活动，而且与那些间接参与制作的人作为解说员和参与者的(角色)自我形象同样相关。现有的研究表明，在生活世界和家庭形式日益个性化的过程中，媒体提供了定向功能。因此，可以想见，年轻女性使用的Instagram这样的数字图像门户网站正在帮助塑造她们作为母亲的自我形象--特别是考虑到在网上特别强调自己是母亲的所谓“哑巴传播者”越来越受欢迎。研究视角将为人母理解为一个生产过程(“为人母”)。因此，我们使用了多方法设计，旨在同时突出和质疑由媒体构建的榜样。这首先是通过分析Instagram上女演员的舞台表演来完成的。以覆盖范围衡量，用户受欢迎程度被包括在内，以了解哪种母亲形象产生共鸣，以及这在多大程度上与日益增长的自我专业化有关，这被理解为面向营销和广告业。一项对活跃的“哑剧制作人”的调查表明，女性制片人面临着挑战，以及她们如何在出版母性作品时反思自己的角色。对评论的分析清楚地表明，哪些叙事是社区协商和欣赏的。总而言之，这些结果可以表明，受欢迎的女演员日益自我职业化是否以及在多大程度上导致了一种促进对母亲的规范期望的榜样--以及谈判母亲身份的空间有多大。因此，该项目可以与关于这一专题的现有国际研究相结合，并可以通过其建构主义方法缩小现有的研究差距。对媒体对母亲身份的叙述进行反思似乎更有必要，因为母亲身份目前面临着多种、不同的、有时是标准化的和落后的要求和期望。这种重新传统的感觉在当前的公共话语中尤为明显。

The research project aims to understand the production of meaning of social roles – here in relation to motherhood – through a social constructivist approach. In a digitalized society the research assumes that the image of motherhood is constructed by the media. Therefore, it does not only influence the “Mumfluencers” in their activities but is equally relevant the (role) self-image of those who are indirectly involved in the production as commentators and thus participants. Available studies suggest that the media offer orientation functions during an increasing individualization of lifeworlds and family forms. Accordingly, it can be assumed that the digital image portals like Instagram used by (young) women are helping to shape their self-image as mothers - especially in view of the growing popularity of so called "mumfluencers" who specifically emphasize their motherhood online. The research perspective understands motherhood as a production process ("Doing Motherhood"). Consequently, we use a multi-method design, which aims to simultaneously highlight and question role models who are constructed by the media. This is done first by analyzing the staging of female actors on Instagram. Measured by terms of reach, users popularity are included to understand which image of motherhood finds resonance and to what extent this is associated with increasing self-professionalization, understood as an orientation towards marketing and the advertising industry. A survey of active "mumfluencers" suggests challenges for female producers and how they reflect on their role while publishing motherhood. The analysis of the comments makes it clear which narratives are negotiated and appreciated by the community. In summary the results can show whether and to what extent the increasing self-professionalization of popular female actors leads to a role model that promotes normative expectations of motherhood - and what scope is opened for negotiating motherhood. The project can thus tie in with existing international studies on the topic and can close an existing research gap through its constructivist approach. A reflection on media narratives of motherhood seems more necessary because motherhood is currently confronted with manifold, divergent, sometimes standardized and backward-looking demands and expectations. This sense of a re-traditionalization is especially visible in the current public discourse.