THE PREGNANT BODY AS A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT

Abstract

The world as we know it, is socially divided into a two sexes, two gender system, where the essential insignia of such division lies in the genitalia. Along with this comes the elaboration of the body as text -- a text which derives its elaboration from the larger discourse. Similarly, the pregnant body is also elaborated as text. In Singapore, as in many other countries in the world, the care of the pregnant woman has fallen into the laps of the obstetrician and the place of delivery has become the hospital for the large majority of pregnant women. This implies that obstetrics has become the dominant knowledge system with regards to pregnancy. Therefore, in this study, the focus will be on the pregnant body as it is read and inscribed upon by obstetrics and gynaecology and its practitioners. By looking at the way the pregnant body is read and inscribed by the obstetricians, we can see and understand better the social construction of the pregnant body.