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The Changing Face of Society: Intimacy and Support in the Online World

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Infertility and Intimacy in an Online Community

Part of the book series: Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life ((PSFL))

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Abstract

Since the late twentieth century, the rise of the internet and online support groups (OSGs) has revolutionised the way individuals obtain health information and support (Mo and Coulson 2014, p. 984). This chapter situates the phenomenon of OSGs socially and historically, in relation to the rise of therapy culture and other developments. It provides an overview of the key features of health-related OSG participation, utilising recent studies from clinical/health sciences and pertinent insights from our participants, and outlines our particular contribution to the sociological study of infertility and online support. By approaching the Stronger Together OSG as a very particular narrative environment, we aim to show throughout this book how broader cultural narratives of self, infertility and motherhood are inscribed in participants’ online exchanges.

Journalling is “like a form of absolution for me.” (Stronger Together participant)

“ST is a great place for support. Some of the greatest help I received was from this site. Knowing that I was not alone or crazy on this IF journey was life changing.” (Stronger Together participant)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

    Anne-Maree Sawyer

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  1. Anne-Maree Sawyer
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Correspondence to Anne-Maree Sawyer .

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Sawyer, AM. (2019). The Changing Face of Society: Intimacy and Support in the Online World. In: Infertility and Intimacy in an Online Community. Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-44981-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-44981-8_2

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