Pregnancy as Choice and Excess

Caleb Parsons

Kelly Oliver's piece "Pregnancy as Choice and Excess" delves into the representations of reproductive rights and pregnancy within Hollywood and popular media. At the core of Oliver's debate lies the depiction of innocence and a relational lack of control in motherhood. The difference between "accidental" pregnancies and "chosen" pregnancies blurs the reality that encapsulates pregnancy. While some women may want to become pregnant and engage in sex in order to achieve this, the physical act of conception does not follow the will of the mother. The debate around "choice" conceals connections to class and race as well. The portrayal of white, middle class women who are "baby hungry" can be humorous to audiences, with the narrative typically ending with the woman discovering that traditional family life leads to existential fulfillment. On the other side, many women do not have the luxury to decide between family and work. In the film Precious, the protagonist navigates the terrain of teenage motherhood in a violent household. Impregnated twice by her father, and facing additional abuse from her mother, Precious struggles to liberate herself from her traumatic past and harrowing experiences. This particular instance strays from popular representations arising in the entertainment and media industries. Ultimately, the issue of choice boils down to if the mother can "choose correctly." By resorting to traditional patriarchal paradigms that present successful women as child-bearers, Hollywood reinforces a culture that places the interests of the nuclear family over those of the actual women forced into these ideological corners.