Biological motherhood in terms of the capacity for subjectivity: Experiences of women who use assisted reproductive technology

Starting from their childhood, women in traditional patriarchal societies are brought up by identifying them with motherhood and they are encouraged to internalize this role. Biologically having a baby is a very important and determining factor for those who build up their subjectivity in terms of motherhood in order to fulfil their existence as women. Therefore, although it is a socially and psychologically difficult and expensive process, some women turn to assisted reproductive technologies in order to become biological mothers. At this point it is important to investigate and discuss some issues such as the background factors that affect women's "decision/desire" to become biological mother, women's construction of subjectivity, their capacity for subjectivity and their potential to resist patriarchal construction. With this framework the main aim of this thesis is to investigate and discuss women's construction of motherhood in terms of the capacity for subjectivity by looking at the experiences of women who use assisted reproductive technologies in order to become biological mothers.