Trauma, tragedy and stigma: The discomforting narrative of reproductive rights in Northern Ireland

Abstract

Discussions of stigma (Goffman 1963) have often focused on elements of one's character, something which makes people nervous, uncomfortable, and afraid. In discussions regarding reproductive rights and reproductive justice, however, stigma can be discussed in relation not only to elements of an individuals' character, or a stigmatised behaviour, but also the taboo that surrounds specific decisions and decision-making processes. This research, framed around concepts of reproductive rights in the context of Northern Ireland, looks at spaces of discomfort in relation to the sexed and sexualised body, one that challenges traditional morals and values associated with the church. Situated in a broader context of challenges and restrictions on reproductive rights, I investigate the way in which discussions of abortion, women's sexual liberation, and the right to make choices regarding one's own body are framed in the context of a discomforting narrative, the use of which itself manages social normativities regarding reproductive choices. Utilising empirical data gathered through semi-structured interviews, ethnographic and archival material, this paper looks at the involvement of dominant narratives of women's bodies to understand how a discomforting narrative of women, of sex, and of reproduction is created in the case of Northern Ireland.