You are here

UCF Digital Collections ยป ETD Collection

Rock-a-Buy Baby: Consumerism by New, First-Time Mothers

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
2012
Abstract/Description:
Rock-a-Buy Baby: Consumerism by New, First-Time Mothers, is the first known sociological exploration of need-based consumption for babies, despite the baby gear industry being a $6-billion-dollar business (whattoexpect.com). Data stemmed from qualitative, semi-structured interviews with new, first-time mothers (3 months (-) 1 year postpartum) conducted within participants' households. The insights gained from the present study tell us a great deal about the (")needs(") that predominantly white, middle-class mothers socially constructed in anticipation of their first child, and the consumptive behaviors used to accomplish these "needs." Respondents had turned to similar resources (other mothers, online forums, consumer reports, books, magazines, etc.) to help them construct (")need(") and formulate decisions among commodities. Provided they were relying on comparable, if not overlapping, bodies of knowledge, mothers' narratives about consumer (")need(") were often congruent. Additionally, the ways expectant mothers accumulated items are ritualized and made tradition. The baby shower and gift registration process (which all of my respondents participated in to some variation) are social constructions; these practices, which are so strongly tied to consumption, also constituted reality for mothers, and inevitably, their babies.
Title: Rock-a-Buy Baby: Consumerism by New, First-Time Mothers.
54 views
33 downloads
Name(s): Afflerback, Sara, Author
Grauerholz, Elizabeth, Committee Chair
Carter, Shannon, Committee Member
Koontz, Amanda, Committee Member
, Committee Member
University of Central Florida, Degree Grantor
Type of Resource: text
Date Issued: 2012
Publisher: University of Central Florida
Language(s): English
Abstract/Description: Rock-a-Buy Baby: Consumerism by New, First-Time Mothers, is the first known sociological exploration of need-based consumption for babies, despite the baby gear industry being a $6-billion-dollar business (whattoexpect.com). Data stemmed from qualitative, semi-structured interviews with new, first-time mothers (3 months (-) 1 year postpartum) conducted within participants' households. The insights gained from the present study tell us a great deal about the (")needs(") that predominantly white, middle-class mothers socially constructed in anticipation of their first child, and the consumptive behaviors used to accomplish these "needs." Respondents had turned to similar resources (other mothers, online forums, consumer reports, books, magazines, etc.) to help them construct (")need(") and formulate decisions among commodities. Provided they were relying on comparable, if not overlapping, bodies of knowledge, mothers' narratives about consumer (")need(") were often congruent. Additionally, the ways expectant mothers accumulated items are ritualized and made tradition. The baby shower and gift registration process (which all of my respondents participated in to some variation) are social constructions; these practices, which are so strongly tied to consumption, also constituted reality for mothers, and inevitably, their babies.
Identifier: CFE0004258 (IID), ucf:49502 (fedora)
Note(s): 2012-05-01
M.A.
Sciences, Sociology
Masters
This record was generated from author submitted information.
Subject(s): consumption -- consumerism -- consumption rituals -- reproduction -- motherhood -- babies -- baby shower -- gift registration -- social construction -- reality construction -- need -- qualitative methods
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0004258
Restrictions on Access: campus 2013-05-15
Host Institution: UCF

In Collections