Gender snows - First time mothers and embodied selves

This article draws on data from a study of the transition to motherhood to contribute to feminist theorizing of embodiment. Three bodily aspects of wo men's gendered sense of self are identified as undergoing possible change d uring this period-sensuality shape, and space. The work of Arthur Frank is drawn on to theorize shifts in women's experience of these dimensions, and the author shows how the white, middle-class women studied could use such d iscourses around the body ar resources in renegotiating their social positi oning. This empirical analysis demonstrates how physical changes may facili tate challenging the dominant body norms, although the work of Robert Conne ll indicates that social control may also be a consequence of such bodily c onceptualizations. This article therefore uses its empirical analysis to co ntribute to theorizing the connections between bodily practices and gendere d identity.