Episode 67: Bethany Johnson and Maggie Quinlan

On this episode of en(gender)ed, our guests are Bethany Johnson and Maggie Quinlan, co-authors of the book, You’re Doing it Wrong! Mothering, Media and Medical Expertise, which investigates the storied history of expertise around mothering in society and in the media.  As an Associate Professor of Communications at UNC Charlotte, Maggie work explores how communication creates, resists and transforms knowledge about bodies. Bethany is an instructor in the Department of History and her research focuses on American medical and gender history.  Our discussion today will deep dive into their most recent joint work, You’re Doing it Wrong! and its analysis of the history of mothering, mothering experts, and the implications social media has had on the experience of mothering in this country and the issues of equality it raises for mothers to receive equitable care.

During our conversation, Bethany and Maggie and I referenced the following resources:

• Episode 9 with Joan Meier and her recent final publication of her research on how courts view claims of abuse
• Robin Jensen's Infertility: Tracing the History of a Transformative Term
• The work of Mary Putnam Jacobi on women's health
• The work of Dr. Matrika Johnson on research and work in reproductive endocrinology and infertility in the African-American community
• Teri's reference to the National Advocates for Pregnant Women
• The feminist group Heterdoxy who brought birthing into hospitals
• Maya Dusenbery's book, Doing Harm
• Serena Williams' near death experience after giving birth

If you'd like to purchase Bethany and Maggie's book, click on this link for a flyer offering a 30% discount.

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