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
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
79Informations de copyright
Copyright: © 2023 Sergeev D.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
No competing interests were disclosed.