Date of Award
2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Fairchild, Emily
Keywords
Blogs, Motherhood, Developmental Disabilities, Social Norms
Area of Concentration
Sociology
Abstract
In this thesis, I explore how mothers of girls with Rett syndrome use blogs to portray their identity. I perform a content analysis of eight blogs written by mothers of “Rett girls” and code the data to determine how the bloggers reveal themselves through impression management. From this content analysis, I determine that mothers often shared their negative emotional experiences and the conflicting sources of knowledge that they had to sift through while caring for their daughters. Intensive mothering ideologies and the unique experience of caring for a daughter with Rett syndrome impact bloggers’ maternal identities. They must balance fitting into mothering norms while also caring for a daughter with special needs. At times, this complicates their ability to fulfill mothering norms.
Recommended Citation
Rodda, Corey, "CHALLENGING MOTHERHOOD IDEALS: IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT IN RETT MOM BLOGS" (2014). Theses & ETDs. 4933.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/4933