Navigating normativity: understanding reproductive loss in the lives of young adults with shortened lives

Earle, S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2810-5659, 2023. Navigating normativity: understanding reproductive loss in the lives of young adults with shortened lives. In: Earle, S ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2810-5659 and Blackburn, M, eds., Sex, intimacy and living with life-shortening conditions. Routledge Studies in the Sociology of Health and Illness . Abingdon: Routledge. ISBN 9781032243962

Text 1848534_Earle.pdf - Post-print Full-text access embargoed until 19 June 2025. Download (241kB)

Abstract

Until quite recently, many of those with life-limiting or life-shortening conditions died in infancy or childhood, with very few reaching adolescence or adulthood. Advances in medicine and clinical care have changed this picture and many of those diagnosed with these conditions are reaching adulthood and beyond. Transition into adult life opens new opportunities including the potential for sexual exploration, intimate relationships and having children of one’s own. However, for those living with life-shortening conditions these opportunities are often curtailed and difficult to achieve because others assume that they will not reproduce. This chapter explores the concept of reproductive loss within the lives of young adults with shortened lives. In particular, it considers the normative assumptions of embodied limitations, assumed infantilisation and the imperative of moral responsibility, which serve to frame young people’s reproductive beliefs, aspirations and choices.

Item Type:	Chapter in book
Creators:	Earle, S.
Publisher:	Routledge
Place of Publication:	Abingdon
Date:	19 December 2023
ISBN:	9781032243962
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.4324/9781003278399-13 DOI 1848534 Other
Rights:	This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge in Sex, intimacy and living with life-shortening conditions on 19/12/2023, available online: https://www.routledge.com/9781032243962
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Laura Ward
Date Added:	08 Jan 2024 11:02
Last Modified:	08 Jan 2024 11:02
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/50635

Actions (login required)

Edit View

Statistics

Views

Downloads