Understanding Reproductive Loss

The study of human reproduction has focused on reproductive 'success' and on the struggle to achieve this, rather than on the much more common experience of 'failure', or reproductive loss. Drawing on the latest research from The UK and Europe, The United States, Australia and Africa, this volume examines the experience of reproductive loss in its widest sense to include termination of pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, perinatal and infant death, as well as - more broadly - the loss of desired normative experiences such as that associated with infertility, assisted reproduction and the medicalisation of 'high risk' pregnancy and birth. Exploring the commonalities, as well as issues of difference and diversity, Understanding Reproductive Loss presents international work from a variety of multi-disciplinary perspectives and will appeal to sociologists, anthropologists and other social scientists with interests in medicine, health, the body, death studies and gender.'As well-known feminist scholars in the field of human reproduction, Earle, Komaromy and Layne have edited a significant collection, offering insightful, comprehensive approaches to reproductive loss, a much needed area of research. Readers will find this book to be a springboard for further research, an important asset for their teaching and a veritable eye opener to the complexities involved.' Elizabeth Ettorre, University of Liverpool, UK 'Providing nuanced accounts of the range and complexity of reproductive loss set in historical and cross cultural context, this collection is a must read for all researchers and practitioners working in this field.' Ellen Annandale, University of Leicester, UK