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CONTENTS

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION: THEORISING MOTHERHOOD ON THE SMALL SCREEN

Chapter 2 SOAP OPERA: CHALLENGING THE ‘GOOD’ MOTHER STEREOTYPE

Introduction

History of the Genre

Women and Soap Opera

Soap Opera and Motherhood

EastEnders

Abortion, Miscarriage and Impending Motherhood

Birth and Biological Mothers

Soap Opera and Other-Mothers

Conclusion

Chapter 3 SITUATION COMEDY: THE (UN)FUNNY MUMMY WARS

Introduction

History of the Genre

Situation Comedy and the Importance of Family

Situation Comedy, the Family and Social Change

Pregnancy and Motherhood in the Situation Comedy: Lucy, Murphy and Roseanne

Outnumbered

Maternal Routine and Motherwork

Women, Work and the Mother ‘Wars’

Conclusion

Chapter 4 TEEN DRAMA: ABSENT, INEPT AND INTOXICATED MOTHERS

Introduction

The Teen Experience Within and Beyond the Small Screen

History of the Genre

Ineffective and Absent Parents in Teen Television

90210

Domestic Privilege and Problematic Motherhood

Power, Patriarchy and the Single Shift

Imperfect but Available Motherhood

Conclusion

Chapter 5 DRAMEDY: STRUGGLING, SEXUAL AND SISTERLY SINGLE MOTHERS

Introduction

History of the Genre

Single, Sexual and Sisterly Motherhood in the Dramedy Genre

Defining Single Motherhood in Society

The ‘Good’ and ‘Bad’ Single Mother

Gilmore Girls

A Myriad of Mothers on Gilmore Girls

Lorelai, Rory and the Sisterly Bond

Lorelai, Rory, Sex and Conversation

Lorelai, Rory and Domestic Indifference

Lorelai, Rory, Other-Mothers and the Community Effort

Lorelai, Emily and the Mother–Daughter Dynamic

Conclusion

Chapter 6 REALITY PARENTING PROGRAMMING: FRAGILE, FAILING AND INEFFECTUAL MOTHERS

Introduction

History of the Genre

Maternal Myths and the Monstrous Reality of Motherhood

Class, Gender and Parenting Programming

Supernanny

Positive and Empowering Parental Programming

Incompetent, Incapable and Ineffectual Mothers

Conclusion

Chapter 7 CELEBRITY REALITY TELEVISION: MAINTAINING THE ‘YUMMY MUMMY’ PROFILE

Introduction

Serene, Selfless and Spontaneous: The Celebrity Mother Profile

The Hierarchy of Contemporary Female Celebrity

Mothering and Motherwork in Celebrity Reality Television

Alicia Douvall: One Teenage Daughter, Body Dysmorphia and Glamour Modelling

Katie Price: Three Children, Two Fathers, Disability and Material Excess

Kerry Katona: Four Children, Two Fathers, Bankruptcy and Bipolar Disorder

Conclusion

Chapter 8 FACTUAL TELEVISION: PREGNANCY, DELIVERY AND THE NEW MOTHER

Introduction

The Changing ‘Nature’ of Childbirth

Women’s Voices and the Childbirth Experience

A Baby Story: The Cosy Reality of Pregnancy and Childbirth Television

Maternity Ward: The Difficult Reality of Pregnancy and Childbirth Television

One Born Every Minute UK

Fixed Cameras, No Commentary and a More Balanced View of Childbirth

Revealing the Hidden Truths of Pregnancy and Childbirth

Dramatic Action, Voice-Over Narration and Medicalised Childbirth in One Born Every Minute USA

Conclusion

Chapter 9 CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX