Accoe, Dorian, Adkins, Victoria, Romanis, Elizabeth Chloe and Segers, Seppe (2026) Reproducing guilt: challenging the ‘inappropriateness’ of guilt after pregnancy loss. International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics (IJFAB), 19 (1). pp. 101-121. ISSN 1937-4585 (Print), 1937-4577 (Online) (doi:10.3138/ijfab-2025-0006)

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Abstract

Feelings of guilt have been reported by (formerly) pregnant people, for example, after miscarriage, stillbirth, induced abortion, or preterm birth. However, it is sometimes held that they should not feel that way. In this article, the authors (a) scrutinize attributions of guilt, (b) problematize philosophical approaches to guilt—especially Thomas Scanlon’s approach—and moral emotions more broadly, and (c) criticize such theoretical-normative interventions in light of sociopolitical expectations surrounding pregnancy. They conclude that, rather than denouncing experiences of guilt in perinatal contexts as “inapt” or “misplaced,” the norms and expectations that trigger and cultivate such feelings should be addressed.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	“This is the accepted manuscript of an article published by University of Toronto Press in International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics. The published version is available at: https://doi.org/10.3138/ijfab-2025-0006.”
Uncontrolled Keywords:	guilt, moral emotion, pregnancy, pregnancy loss
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology K Law > K Law (General) R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > Centre for Communities and Social Justice Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Law and Criminology
Last Modified:	06 May 2026 09:44
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/52390

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