title: The sociology of childbirth: an autobiographical journey through four decades of research.
abstract: The sociology of childbirth emerged in the 1970s largely as a result of influences from outside sociology. These included feminism, maternity care activism, the increasing medicalisation of childbirth, and evidence-based health care. This paper uses the author's own sociological 'career' to map a journey through four decades of childbirth research. It demonstrates the importance of social networks and interdisciplinary work, particularly across the medical-social science divide and including cross-cultural perspectives, argues that the study of reproduction has facilitated methodological development within the social sciences, and suggests that childbirth remains on the periphery of mainstream sociological concerns.
authors: UCL Institute of Education, Social Science Research Unit, London, UK.
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Oakley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism / Q000266:history; D006291:Health Policy; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D062528:Medicalization / Q000266:history; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D012962:Sociology, Medical
keywords: childbirth; health policy; medicalisation; midwifery; obstetrics/obstetricians; patient and public engagement