New opinion piece: Why has pregnancy become a high-risk project?
A growing list of recommendations for pregnant women reflects more than new medical knowledge. According to CELE researcher Ebba Henrekson, it also reflects broader societal changes in how we understand risk, responsibility, and parenthood.
About opinion piece
In a new opinion piece published in Svenska Dagbladet, Ebba Henrekson, sociologist and Affiliated Researcher at the Center for Educational Leadership and Excellence, explores how modern pregnancy has become increasingly shaped by risk management and moral expectations.
The article argues that while many recommendations given to pregnant women are well-founded, the sheer number of rules and precautionary measures can create a constant sense of uncertainty and responsibility. Rather than reflecting dramatically increased risks, Henrekson suggests this development mirrors what sociologist Ulrich Beck described as the "risk society" - a society where invisible, scientifically defined risks increasingly shape everyday life.
Drawing on sociological theory, Henrekson also discusses how responsibility for managing these risks has become highly individualized. Pregnant women are expected not only to follow official recommendations, but also to navigate a growing market of advice, products, social media content, and expert opinions. This, she argues, can turn pregnancy into a project of continuous risk minimization.
The opinion piece also highlights the concept of total motherhood, introduced by sociologist Joan Wolf, describing how motherhood has increasingly become associated with eliminating every conceivable risk to the child, regardless of how uncertain or limited the scientific evidence may be.
Henrekson contrasts this with psychologist and pediatrician Donald Winnicott's classic idea of the "good enough" parent, arguing that today's ideals often leave little room for uncertainty, imperfection, or individual judgement.
Rather than calling for women to ignore public health recommendations, the article advocates for a more balanced understanding of risk - one that recognizes that precautionary principles are not always the same as evidence of harm, and that reducing unnecessary anxiety may itself benefit both mother and child.
The article forms part of CELE's broader interest in how institutions, norms, and public policy shape people's everyday decisions and experiences.
Read the full opinion piece (in Swedish):
Så blev graviditeten ett högriskprojekt by Ebba Henrekson, published in Svenska Dagbladet.
