Dynamics of single mothers' semantic strategies in Anglophone non-fiction.

critical discourse analysis cultural semantics gender identification meaning-making non-fiction self-help sematic strategies single motherhood

Journal

Open research Europe
ISSN: 2732-5121
Titre abrégé: Open Res Eur
Pays: Belgium
ID NLM: 9918230081006676

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
2023
Historique:
accepted: 04 08 2023
medline: 30 8 2023
pubmed: 30 8 2023
entrez: 30 8 2023
Statut: epublish

Résumé

The article discusses how the increasing number of self-help books for single mothers is meeting the demand for positive narratives about their experiences, which are often stereotyped in the media. The books offer a powerful tool for self-reflection, and content analysis reveals semantic strategies that authors use to construct, negotiate, and reframe single motherhood. The authors aim to challenge societal expectations and redefine what constitutes a family. There are still conflicting messages that perpetuate negative stereotypes and stigmas about single mothers, propelling identity negotiation. The seven principal semantic strategies applied in the texts include reframing, renaming, normalization, direct or indirect confrontations, distinctions, self-labelling, and vernacular. By using semantic strategies, authors aim to empower single mothers, challenge negative stereotypes, and create a sense of community. While there are limitations to the self-help genre, it remains a powerful tool for self-reflection, self-empowerment, and the construction of identity.

Identifiants

pubmed: 37645486
doi: 10.12688/openreseurope.15729.2
pmc: PMC10446034
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

79

Informations de copyright

Copyright: © 2023 Sergeev D.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

No competing interests were disclosed.

Auteurs

Dmitrii Sergeev (D)

Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 8PQ, UK.

Classifications MeSH