Journal of Undergraduate Research
Keywords
pregnancy, birth, personhood, Asante, Western Ghana, giving birth
College
Family, Home, and Social Sciences
Department
Anthropology
Abstract
Giving birth in Mampong, Ghana is a ritualized process of behavior involving not only the mother and her child, but also many different segments of society. Upon giving birth, a mother’s life will change considerably and her role in society will transform radically upon the safe delivery of her infant. She will become initiated into a new culture of motherhood and will have various decisions to make concerning the birth of her child. Throughout this project, I kept a double focus. First, I attempted to record some of the birthing options available to mothers in rural Ghana. Next, I also wanted to try to understand the significance of motherhood in Asante culture and how giving birth changes the status of a new mother.
Recommended Citation
Olsen, Rebekah and Olsen, Dr. William
(2013)
"Pregnancy, Birth, and the Conceptualization of Personhood Among the Asante of Western Ghana,"
Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013:
Iss.
1, Article 106.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/106