Refracted selves? A study of changes in self-identity in the transition tomotherhood

Drawing on data from a study of middle-class women undergoing the transitio n to motherhood, this paper critically examines the early 1990s' work of Gi ddens and Beck on self-identity. Parallels with the work of Giddens and Bec k are drawn, but it is argued that more attention needs to be paid to gende red and embodied identity. Using discourse analysis, it is suggested that t he women are 'excused' from aspects of their identity in the process of pre gnancy, but remain within the same regime of subjectification. Six dimensio ns of an altered sense of self are identified, and the discourses on which the women draw in maintaining a coherent sense of self are discussed. The c oncept of a refracted self is proposed as a means of theorising these chang es.