A1 Journal article (refereed)
“F*** this shit” : Negotiating the Boundaries of Public Expression of Mother’s Negative Feelings (2021)
Mustosmäki, A., & Sihto, T. (2021). “F*** this shit” : Negotiating the Boundaries of Public Expression of Mother’s Negative Feelings. Nora: Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research, 29(3), 216-228. https://doi.org/10.1080/08038740.2021.1921844
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Mustosmäki, Armi; Sihto, Tiina
Journal or series: Nora: Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research
ISSN: 0803-8740
eISSN: 1502-394X
Publication year: 2021
Publication date: 08/06/2021
Volume: 29
Issue number: 3
Pages range: 216-228
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Publication country: United States
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08038740.2021.1921844
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/76364
Abstract
In 2017, Finnish celebrity Sini Ariell published a blog post titled “F*** this shit” in which she revealed her difficult feelings as a mother of a newborn baby. Attracting attention from Finnish media, the post went viral. Through the empirical analysis of affective reactions to the post on an anonymous online discussion board, we explore how the limits of the public expression of negative maternal feelings are negotiated and maintained, but also challenged. Our results highlight the normative, even punitive dynamics of the digital intimate public, as commenters on the discussion board often argued that struggles and unhappiness during motherhood should not be made public but dealt with in private. However, ambivalences and supportive comments suggested the possibility to challenge norms surrounding motherhood and widen the discussion of difficulties and inequalities in motherhood and family life. Based on our analysis, we argue that affective articulations of anger, anxiety and exhaustion may challenge the digital intimate public’s “infrastructure of happiness”, and they thus have political potential to disrupt the ideals of good motherhood and address the affective struggles that mothering often entails.
Keywords: maternity; mothers; emotions; affectivity; newborn infants; family life; message boards; online discussion; social media; public discussion; ambivalence; normativity
Free keywords: affect; celebrity; motherhood; social media
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- Complaining mothers: affect, moral and politics of medicalization
- Mustosmäki, Armi
- Kone Foundation
- Centre of Excellence in Research on Ageing and Care
- Kröger, Teppo
- Academy of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 2