Ming Li Chen
Graduate Institute for Gender Studies, Shih Hsin University
This study aims to explore the issues of advanced maternalage and seeks to critically examine the social prejudice and medical situations of pregnancy and childbearing for women after age
thirty-five. Based on women’s actual experiences of giving birth over thirty-five, this study attempts to develop positive discourses of midlife pregnancy and childbearing, offer alternative viewpoints of delayed motherhood, and hopes to empower those who decide to delay their pregnancy for any consideration. This study was completed in two parts: an ethnographic observation of discussions on a social media site, and fifteen interviews with mothers who gave birth after thirty-five. Past research has shown that pregnancy and childbearing at a more advanced age is constructed as a high-risk process that involves more complex medical interventions. These discourses, permeated by gynecologists, the media, and personal networks, have become “common knowledge” for most women and has led to more self-monitoring and self-discipline. Moreover, in everyday life, older mothers are often seen as peculiar, which causes another anxiety and
obstacle for women giving birth over the age of 35 or older. This study suggests that building active and friendly medical and social environments is the most vital issue in this trend of advanced age motherhood.
Keywords: advanced maternal age, medical treatments, social prejudice