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how is motherhood constructed?

what are the expectations for new mothers? how are these expectations reinforced?

Many new mothers have ideas about what motherhood will look like, often fetishizing the idea of being a "perfect mother". 

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We all have ideas about who/what makes the "perfect mother". But usually these ideas of the ideal/perfect don't include post-partum depression.

how is motherhood medicalized?

We often assume that medicine is steeped in rationality and science. But is medicine really so impartial? In terms of postpartum depression, does medicine simply reflect our expectations for what "good mothers" should be? 

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But as we saw in our interviews, medicine also has the ability to dramatically change real women's lives for the better. 

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So how do we reconcile the way medicalization can reinforce social norms, but also provide positive and needed help? 

how do women navigate their relationships to themselves, their support systems and the structural realities surrounding them? 

How do mother's relationships to themselves and others play a role in their experiences with postpartum depression? How does postpartum depression influence their relationships?  

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Can relying more on support systems help with managing postpartum depression? 

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