Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6788-3907

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Social Studies of Science

Abstract

Using critical discourse analysis, we examine how seven popular gynecology textbooks use sociolinguistic devices to describe the health effects of pharma-contraception (intrauterine and hormonal methods). Though previous studies have noted that textbooks generally use neutral language, we find that gynecology textbooks differentially deployed linguistic devices, framing pharma-contraceptive benefits as certain and risks as doubtful. These discursive strategies transform pharma-contraceptive safety into fact. We expand on Latour and Woolgar's concept of noncontentious facts by showing how some facts that are taken for granted by the medical community still require discursive fortification to counter potential negative accusations from outside the profession. We call these contentious facts. Our findings suggest that a pro-pharma orientation exists in gynecology textbooks, which may influence physicians' understanding of pharmaceutical safety. As such, these texts may affect medical practice by normalizing pharma-contraceptives without full considerations of their risks.

Pages

245-263

html

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306312719834676

Volume

49

Issue

2

Publication Date

2019

Keywords

contraception; fact construction; medical textbooks; modalities; pharmaceuticalization

Disciplines

Medicine and Health | Sociology

Comments

This is a pre-publication version of an article published by Social Studies of Science. The citation information for the Version of Record is:

Bertotti AM, Miner SA. Constructing contentious and noncontentious facts: How gynecology textbooks create certainty around pharma-contraceptive safety. Soc Stud Sci. 2019 Apr;49(2):245-263. doi: 10.1177/0306312719834676. Epub 2019 Mar 7. PMID: 30841787.

ISSN

1460-3659

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