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Mechanistic and "natural" body metaphors and their effects on attitudes to hormonal contraception
journal contribution
posted on 2023-08-30, 13:39 authored by Susan H. WalkerA small, self-selected convenience sample of male and female contraceptive users in the United Kingdom (n = 34) were interviewed between 2006 and 2008 concerning their feelings about the body and their contraceptive attitudes and experiences. The interviewees were a sub-sample of respondents (n = 188) who completed a paper-based questionnaire on similar topics, who were recruited through a poster placed in a family planning clinic, web-based advertisements on workplace and university websites, and through direct approaches to social groups. The bodily metaphors used when discussing contraception were analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological analytical approach facilitated by Atlas.ti software. The dominant bodily metaphor was mechanistic (i.e.,"body as machine"). A subordinate but influential bodily metaphor was the "natural" body, which had connotations of connection to nature and a quasi-sacred bodily order. Interviewees drew upon this "natural" metaphorical image in the context of discussing their anxieties about hormonal contraception. Drawing upon a "natural," non-mechanistic body image in the context of contraceptive decision-making contributed to reluctance to use a hormonal form of contraception. This research suggests that clinicians could improve communication and advice about contraception by recognizing that some users may draw upon non-mechanistic body imagery.
History
Refereed
- Yes
Volume
52Issue number
8Page range
788-803Publication title
Women and HealthISSN
1541-0331External DOI
Publisher
Taylor & FrancisFile version
- Accepted version
Language
- eng
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Legacy posted date
2012-12-13Legacy creation date
2020-06-09Legacy Faculty/School/Department
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