本研究主要探討懷抱生男使命之婦女高齡懷孕的醫療經驗與生活處境，其目的是要了解婦女高齡時為求懷孕生男及在孕期中面對醫療處置的經驗與感受，以及面對生活處境與因應行為，並進而瞭解其生男的動機與態度，生男使命對婦女所隱含的意義。期望藉由本研究的探討，可以協助醫護人員在關切孕婦身體之際，更能注意到高齡懷孕的感受與實際需求。也使婦女能夠有機會站出來抒發自己內心真實的感受，同時讓我們社會大眾能夠明瞭女性在面對傳統與現代雙重文化的衝擊下，對現實的社會規範及自我價值的追求與自主性上如何去因應與調適？ 本研究是屬於質性研究採用深度訪談方式收集資料，共訪談11位受訪者，將收集資料經過處理分析後得到以下五個研究結果： 一、 主要範疇：高齡婦女面對生男使命的心路歷程，副範疇：（一）擺盪之間（二）明白自己是高齡婦女。 二、 主要範疇：文化牢籠，副範疇：（一）固有觀念的烙印（二）母職與生育迷思（三）婆媳無解習題。 三、 主要範疇：生活世界的解離，副範疇：（一）婆媳相處過程（二）失去身體的主宰能力（三）犧牲與奉獻（四）變調的夫妻關係。 四、 主要範疇：尋求醫療經驗的歷程，副範疇：（一）不得不放棄－－自然受孕（二）無其不有的方法。 五、 主要範疇：追求生男使命的意義，副範疇：（一）人性掙扎－求與不求之間的拉鋸戰（二）觀念的轉變（三）成功的滋味（四）遺珠之憾 。 依據研究結果發現『生男傳宗接代』及『重男輕女』的觀念依然存留於眾人心中，因此這舊時代的包袱，整個社會文化的價值觀都急需要靠大家一點一滴的去慢慢改變它，否則女性永遠要受困於生男的壓力。 The purpose of this research is to examine the medical experience and living situation of older women under the pressure of producing a male heir. The objective is to understand the emotional states of older women seeking to produce a male child, their medical experience during pregnancy, and how they deal with their living situation. The goal is to understand the motives and attitudes behind the need to foster a male child in these women and the inherent significance that such duty holds for these women. It is hoped that this study will assist medical staff in the care of pregnant women and tend to the needs and feelings of older pregnant women. The study also offers women an opportunity to express their true feelings and enable society to better understand how women under the influence of both traditional and modern cultures must respond and adjust to social standards as well as define their self worth and autonomy. This is a qualitative study with data collected through in-depth interviews. A total of eleven interviewees have been interviewed. The following five findings have been obtained from analysis of the data collected: I. Main category: the inner struggles of older women in the face of the duty to bear a male heir; sub-category: (1) swaying back and forth; (2) realizing the fact that she is an older woman. II. Main category: cultural cage; sub-category: (1) the imprint of deep-rooted beliefs; (2) the myth of maternal duties and procreation; (3) the age-old problems between a woman and her mother-in-law. III. Main category: distancing from life; sub-category: (1) the relationship between a woman and her mother-in-law; (2) the loss of sovereignty over one’s own body; (3) sacrifices and contributions; (4) warped spousal relationship. IV. Main category: seeking and undergoing medical treatment; sub-category: (1) forced to give up – natural method of conception; (2) trying all available methods and fads. V. Main category: the significance of the duty to bear a male heir; sub-category: (1) the human struggle – the tug of war between wanting and conceding; (2) the changing of beliefs; (3) the taste of success; (4) regret. According to research findings, the beliefs of “bearing a male heir to carry on the family name” and “male chauvinism” are still very much widely a part of mainstream society. It is up to all of us to reform these beliefs from the old days and shape our value system. Otherwise, women will be forever trapped under the pressure of producing a male heir.
