Perspectives on Gender

Although self-help has been an integral strategy of the women''s movement, the burgeoning self-help publishing industry and growing popularity of talk shows encouraging personal confession have provoked vicious attacks on self-help from many feminists. Rock-a-By Baby examines the postpartum depression support group movement and exploring the relationship between gender, the ideas and strategies of women''s self-help groups and feminism. Taylor uses interviews and personal letters, talk show transcripts, organizational newsletters and a survey of postpartum group leaders to illuminate conflicts played out in the arena of women''s self-help.