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"McFarlane investigates how a military culture of hypermasculinity frames pregnancy as problematic in spite of policies designed to accommodate it. Importantly, she also offers suggestions for the kinds of systemic and cultural changes needed to eliminate discrimination against pregnant workers in the military and in society at large."—Sara Hayden, Professor of Communication Studies, University of Montana
"Through an analysis of women’s lived experience in the military, this book exposes the "circuit of discipline" formed in the relationship between policy (material reality) and cultural practice (socially constructed reality). While the book explicates the specific challenges working military mothers face, it also provides an exemplar for challenging the relationship of policy and practice faced by other marginalized populations whose ability to define their working environments is short-circuited."—Dr. Paaige K. Turner, Dean of the College of Communication, Information, and Media, Ball State University
"McFarlane is breaking new ground with the focus on women’s maternity experiences in the military."—Tasha N. Dubriwny, Associate Professor of Communication, Texas A&M University
"This book's contribution is to shed light on a previously under-explored topic: women's experiences of pregnancy and motherhood in the military. The author makes a compelling case. An excellent piece of scholarship in every regard."—Amy Koerber, Professor of Communications, Texas Tech University
List of contents
Acknowledgments
1. Examining the Pregnancy Continuum in the U.S. Military
2. Contextualizing Military Maternity Experiences
3. Hyperplanning Pregnancies
4. Performing Macho Maternity
5. Negotiating Postpartum Policies
6. Redefining Military Maternity
Appendix A Research Participants: Demographics
Appendix B Profiles: Enlisted Servicewomen
Appendix C Profiles: Female Officers
Notes
Bibliography
Index
