Introduction: Since the 1970s, representations of women in fiction have been the subject
of interdisciplinary analysis to understand how cultural narratives perpetuate, challenge
or transform patriarchal discourses.
Researchers such as Friedan, Faludi and Macdonald have shown how the media reproduce
myths of femininity that reinforce gender inequalities. According to De Lauretis, gender
is constructed through representation, while Ricoeur stresses that cultural narratives
shape individual identities by linking personal histories with collective imaginaries.
In the area of motherhood, researchers such as Douglas and Michaels, Feasey and Kaplan
have shown how the media reinforces conservative ideals such as 'new momism' and
simplifies biological processes such as pregnancy and breastfeeding, while personal
testimonies reveal tensions between cultural expectations and lived experiences,
highlighting the need for more inclusive and diverse narratives.
Aim: The project analyzes the representation of reproductive processes-such as
menstruation, pregnancy, abortion, and menopause-in contemporary Spanish audiovisual
fiction, assessing how these narratives reflect or challenge socio-cultural structures
and reconfigure traditional imaginaries.
Through an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach, the research team aims to
understand how different audiences, particularly those related to reproductive health,
perceive these narratives. The study will include an analysis of fiction, the perceptions
of users and professionals, and collaboration with organizations such as the Catalan
Association of Midwives (ACL) and audiovisual experts to co-produce a good practice guide
that promotes inclusive, ethical, and patriarchy-free representations.
Material and method: The study will follow a sequential transformative mixed method
design (DITRAS), with qualitative predominance and participatory action research, divided
into three phases. In the first phase, a quantitative approach will be used with a
descriptive cross-sectional study, based on a systematic search of film databases,
digital platforms and on-demand television. In the second phase, users' and
professionals' perceptions of reproductive health processes will be explored through
focus groups and interviews. In the third phase, participatory action research will be
applied to co-create a manual of good practices to be implemented in undergraduate and
postgraduate training in communication and journalism.
Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the representation of
reproductive processes in Spanish fiction. According to Goffman, the way messages are
framed in the media influences the audience's perception of problems and their solutions,
leading to psychological, social, and political repercussions.
Through strategically designed narratives, the media has the power to shape attitudes and
drive social change, as highlighted by the WHO in its guidelines for addressing sensitive
issues such as suicide. Previous studies on the portrayal of childbirth suggest that
fiction has distorted the perception of care quality, overrepresented white,
heterosexual, non-disabled couples, and depicted women as passive participants in the
process.
The findings of this study have the potential to enhance the representation of
reproductive processes in the media, fostering a more inclusive and accurate perspective
that could shape public perceptions and contribute to the development of more equitable
policies.