Utilizing Relational Dialectics Theory to Identify Dominant and Marginalized Discourses in Women's Miscarriage Podcast Stories

<p>This study examined the discourses of miscarriages from the podcast narratives of women who have experienced miscarriage by utilizing Relational Dialectic Theory (RDT). The process of contrapuntal analysis identified the discourse of silence as the dominant miscarriage discourse in which the marginalized miscarriage discourse of silence as the dominant miscarriage discourse in which the marginalized miscarriage discourses of open and honest and fear and anxiety were counterpoint to. There were four interrelated themes of shame, lack of supportive and encouraging messages, lack of readily available information, and a communicated feeling that their circumstances could be worse that revealed the silence discourse within the women's stories. The Marginalized discourse of open and honest was supported by two interrelated themes of community and advocacy, and validation. The marginalized discourse of fear and anxiety was supported by themes doubt and insecurity and the triggers women experienced after having had a miscarriage. These competing discourses revealed many different nuances and avenues for future miscarriage and reproductive health communication in RDT research.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication and Training

Year dc:date.available

2020

Author dc:creator

• Lardino, Cherinicole

Contributors dc:contributor

• Valerie Cronin-Fisher, Ph.D.
• Lara Stache, Ph.D.
• Jillian Klean-Zwilling, Ph.D.

• miscarriage
• communication
• relational dialectics theory
• silence
• open
• fear

Repository record dc:identifier

https://opus.govst.edu/theses/126

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.govst.edu:theses-1125