Ethnic Minority Women's Experiences Research Articles

Consent in pregnancy: A qualitative study of the experiences of ethnic minority women

ObjectiveConsent in ante-natal and birthing contexts is often challenging, controversial and poorly understood. Increasing evidence indicates that ethnic minority women's overall experiences of ante-natal care are unsatisfactory, but little is known about their involvement in the consent process. This study aims to explore the views and experiences of ethnic minority women when making decisions requiring their consent. DesignQualitative interview study SettingA national study conducted in the UK SampleSeventeen self-selecting ethnic minority women who had given birth in a UK hospital in the previous 12 months. MethodsIn-depth telephone interviews with seventeen women. A thematic analysis was conducted with a focus on women’s experiences of the consent process. ResultsThree themes were identified. 1. Compromised choice: women experienced limited choice; some women were not asked for their consent at all, or consent was presumed. 2. Pressured consent and silencing: women reported feeling undermined and 'othered' based on their ethnicity. 3. Impersonal consent: discussions were impersonal and not tailored to women as individuals; some women suggested that healthcare professionals ignored cultural concerns which were important to them. Practice ImplicationsThere is an urgent need for healthcare professionals to be supported in actively facilitating consent consultations which enable women from ethnic minority backgrounds to freely voice their concerns and priorities without censure. ConclusionsThis exploratory study is a first step towards understanding how consent is experienced by ethnic minority women. Many women’s experiences reflected failure of healthcare professionals to support genuine choice-making which was perceived to be further undermined by negativity related to women’s ethnicity and cultural identity. There is a need for further research focusing on the consent experiences of specific ethnic minority groups.

Ethnic minority women's experiences of accessing antenatal care in high income European countries: a systematic review

Ethnic minority women's experiences of accessing antenatal care in high income European countries: a systematic review

Ethnic minority women’s interactions with antenatal care providers in Europe

Abstract Background Ethnic minority women are at greater risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. Antenatal care reduces risks of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes and supports a positive transition to motherhood. Important components of quality antenatal care are interactions between women and care providers which are supportive and empowering. Methods We conducted a systematic review to identify and synthesise qualitative evidence on ethnic minority women's experiences of accessing antenatal care in European countries. Following a comprehensive search of 8 databases and two-step screening process, we included 27 studies from various European countries. Study findings were coded and synthesised using a ‘best-fit' framework approach. Findings Overall women expressed satisfaction with their antenatal care, frequently framed in relation to experiences of maternity care in countries of origin. Women highly valued interactions with antenatal care providers which were supportive and trust-inducing, and when there was continuity of carer to facilitate this. However, studies frequently showed a dichotomy between reported satisfaction with antenatal care and experiences of interactions with care providers which could be discriminatory, stigmatising and disempowering. Some women blamed themselves for negative interactions. Language barriers were frequently identified by women as a factor which hindered their communication with antenatal care providers and the subsequent quality of care received, when suitable interpreters were not available. Negative interactions with antenatal care providers could result in a withdrawal from ongoing antenatal care for some women. Conclusions This review highlights the importance of quality interactions between ethnic minority women and antenatal care providers. Policy implications: Antenatal care should be provided in such a way as to facilitate trust, support and effective communication between women and care providers. Key messages Positive interactions with care providers form an important element of quality antenatal care for ethnic minority women in Europe. Trust, support and the provision of suitable interpreters, where needed, contribute to positive interactions with antenatal care providers for ethnic minority women in Europe.

A Historical Analysis of the Impact of Hegemonic Masculinities on Sexual Assault in the Lives of Ethnic Minority Women: Informing Nursing Interventions and Health Policy.

Women's experiences of sexual assault are rooted in and informed by a history that nurses need to understand in order to provide meaningful and effective care. In this article, we present a comprehensive literature review guided by intersectionality theory to deepen our understanding of the historical role that hegemonic masculinity plays in shaping ethnic minority women's experiences of sexual assault. Final sources included were analyzed using thematic analysis. On the basis of our analyses, we identified 4 themes: social order hierarchies, "othering" dynamics, economic labor divisions, and negative media/mass communication depiction. Our findings contribute to our understanding of these important histories that speak to the trauma of sexual violence inflicted upon the bodies of ethnic minority women, which we can incorporate into nursing education curricula. Incorporating this knowledge would equip nurses and allied health professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills that would enable them to help patients navigate multiple systems of oppression as they engage in help seeking following a sexual assault experience. This knowledge also acknowledges rather than dismisses the historically acceptable use of sexual violence against ethnic minority women. In addition, acknowledging these histories enables us to move forward as a society in engaging in an urgently needed cultural shift to address the hegemonic masculinities that perpetuate violence against women in the United States.

'Can you please hold my hand too, not only my breast?' The experiences of Muslim women from Turkish and Moroccan descent giving birth in maternity wards in Belgium.

To reach nuanced understanding of the perinatal experiences of ethnic minority women from Turkish and Moroccan descent giving birth in maternity wards in Belgium thereby gaining insight into the underlying challenges of providing intercultural care for ethnic minority persons in a hospital setting. A qualitative study design was used by conducting In-depth interviews with 24 women from Turkish and Moroccan descent who gave birth during the past three years in maternity wards in Flanders, Belgium. The interviews were analysed using a Grounded Theory Approach. This study shows that the women's care experiences were shaped by the care interactions with their caregivers, more specifically on the attention that was given by the caregivers towards two essential dimensions of the care relationship, viz. Ereignis (attention to what happens) and Erlebnis (attention to how it happens). These two dimensions were interrelated in four different ways, which defined the women's care experiences as being either 'uncaring', 'protocolized', 'embraced' or 'ambiguous'. Moreover, these experiences were fundamentally embedded within the women's cultural context, which has to be understood as a relational process in which an emotional and moral meaning was given to the women's care expectations, interactions and interpretations of care. The findings reveal that the quality of intercultural care depends on the nature and quality of care interactions between ethnic minority patients and caregivers much more than on the way in which cultural questions and tensions are being handled or dealt with in a practical way. As such, the importance of establishing a meaningful care relationship should be the priority when providing intercultural care. In this, a shift in perspective on 'culture' from being an 'individual culture-in-isolation' towards an understanding of culture as being inter-relational and emerging from within these care relationships is necessary.

Perinatal mental ill health: the experiences of women from ethnic minority groups

Objectives This study aimed to investigate ethnic minority women's experiences and opinions of perinatal mental health problems and the provision support services. Methods An exploratory survey was undertaken using a questionnaire. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a simple thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data. A total of 51 responses from women of 14 different ethnic minority backgrounds were analysed. Findings Women from minority ethnic groups face barriers to seeking help for perinatal mental ill health as a result of ongoing stigma, the poor attitudes and behaviours of health professionals and inappropriately designed services. Conclusions Future interventions should focus on providing adequate cultural competency for health professionals and ensure that all women are able to access culturally appropriate spaces to talk and be listened to in community settings and wider services.

A systematic review of ethnic minority women's experiences of perinatal mental health conditions and services in Europe.

BackgroundWomen from ethnic minority groups are at greater risk of developing mental health problems. Poor perinatal mental health impacts on maternal morbidity and mortality and can have a devastating impact on child and family wellbeing. It is important to ensure that services are designed to meet the unique needs of women from diverse backgrounds.AimThe aim of the review was to explore ethnic minority women's experiences of perinatal mental ill health, help-seeking and perinatal mental health services in Europe.Data sourcesSearches included CINAHL, Maternity and Infant Care, MEDLINE and PsycINFO with no language or date restrictions. Additional literature was identified by searching reference lists of relevant studies.DesignThis was a mixed method systematic review. Study selection, appraisal and data extraction were conducted by two researchers independently. A convergent approach was adopted for the analysis and the data were synthesised thematically.ResultsThe 15 eligible studies included women from a range of minority ethnic backgrounds and were all undertaken in the United Kingdom (UK). Seven overarching themes were identified; awareness and beliefs about mental health, isolation and seeking support, influence of culture, symptoms and coping strategies, accessing mental health services, experiences of mental health services and what women want.ConclusionLack of awareness about mental ill health, cultural expectations, ongoing stigma, culturally insensitive and fragmented health services and interactions with culturally incompetent and dismissive health providers all impact on ethnic minority women's ability to receive adequate perinatal mental health support in the UK. Future research should focus on in-depth exploration of the experiences of these women across multiple European settings and interventions to reduce health inequalities among vulnerable mothers and families affected by perinatal mental ill health.

Prisoners of identity: The experiences of ethnic minority Vietnamese women categorised as foreign in Cambodian prisons

Criminological scholarship within Southeast Asia is limited and studies of foreign national and/or ethnic minority women's experiences of imprisonment in the region are non-existent. Drawing on in-depth interviews with ethnic Vietnamese women categorised as foreign nationals by the Cambodian Directorate General of Prisons, this article uses an intersectional approach, common within feminist criminology, to explore participants' narrative constructions of their lives prior to and during imprisonment. Our findings demonstrate that intersectional vulnerabilities stemming from their marginalised social position outside prison walls influenced these women's lived experiences of incarceration.

The Organization of Sex Work in Low- and High-Priced Venues with a Focus on the Experiences of Ethnic Minority Women Working in These Venues

The Organization of Sex Work in Low- and High-Priced Venues with a Focus on the Experiences of Ethnic Minority Women Working in These Venues

The Organization of Sex Work in Low- and High-Priced Venues with a Focus on the Experiences of Ethnic Minority Women Working in These Venues

Prior research on female sex workers (FSW) in China, and their risk for HIV and STI, neglects the nuanced experiences of ethnic minority FSW. We conducted participant observations and in-depth interviews with 33 FSW and six venue bosses to describe the experiences of FSW and management structures in low and high-priced sex work venues in Liuzhou, China. In low-priced venues, FSW had more autonomy and stronger relationships with their ethnic minority peers. Mid- and high-priced venues had more formal management structures. Ethnic minority FSW working in higher priced venues experienced less support and kinship with their peers. HIV/STI prevention outreach activities occurred in all of the venues, but they were not tailored for different venue types or for ethnic minority FSW. Our findings provide guidance for tailoring public health programs that meet the needs of ethnic minority women working in different types of sex work venues.

Methodological Considerations in Conducting Ethnocultrally Sensitive Research on Intimate Partner Abuse and its Multidimensional Consequences

Increasingly, attention has focused on ethnoracial disparities as causes and correlates of intimate partner abuse (IPA). Research may benefit from conceptualizing the experiences of ethnic minority women through the lenses of cultural, structural, and institutional inequalities expressed as racism, sexism, and oppression. To enhance the study of ethnocultural variation in IPA research and to promote cultural competence, we discuss a range of methodological issues pertinent to conducting ethnoculturally sensitive IPA research. Providing examples and recommendations from research on U.S. women, this paper explores ethnocultural considerations at each step of the research process: (a) conceptualization of the research question, (b) sampling, (c) recruitment and retention, (d) study design, (e) measurement, (f) statistical analysis, (g) interpretation of results, and (h) ethics. Recommendations include greater use of multiethnic samples of battered women from varying nationalities, and more within-group analyses to capture the substantial diversity and resilience observed within samples of battered women of color. Enhanced use of mixed-method designs combining qualitative and quantitative approaches are likely to lead to more nuanced understandings of the ways in which race, class, and culture impact the nature, dynamics, and impact of IPA. More inclusive research questions and ecologically valid methodologies are necessary for developing culturally competent, data driven policies and practices to promote social justice for ethnic minority battered women.

Reconsidering Work–Life Balance Debates: Challenging Limited Understandings of the ‘Life’ Component in the Context of Ethnic Minority Women's Experiences

This article argues for a broader, more diverse approach to the ‘life’ component of the work–life balance equation. This is discussed within the context of ethnic minority women's experiences of balancing their work and personal life, contending that there are restrictions in our understanding of lives that may fall outside the standard white western model. A key aim of this work is to question existing understandings of work–life balance debates that focus almost exclusively on gender and childcare, ignoring issues around ethnicity, culture and religion. A social constructionist framework was adopted for this study, which acknowledges an interaction between structure, culture and agency. Primary data were collected in the form of semi‐structured, in‐depth interviews with 26 minority female participants, 15 ethnic minority men, eight white women and six white men, all employed across a range of industries and occupations. Although the focus of this paper primarily lies with ethnic minority women's experiences, data from ethnic minority men, white women and men are incorporated in the analysis where appropriate or useful. The empirical data have indicated that both white and ethnic minority women struggle with balancing work and personal life demands to a greater extent than their male counterparts. However, an ethnicity or cultural dimension was apparent, as ethnic minority women often had to deal with additional cultural, community or religious demands. It is argued, nevertheless, that a deeper understanding of the diversity within groups is necessary to avoid essentializing experiences and needs. By acknowledging different forms of life, a more realistic analysis can take place which can inform organizational policy and practice.

How do you account for it?

Abstract This paper draws on new data examining career opportunities and experiences of ethnic minority women. We follow a growing literature in the field of social accounting which has raised awareness of both actual and represented notions of women's roles within accountancy and organisations in general (e.g. [Adams CA, Harte G. Towards corporate accountability for equal opportunities performance. The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Occasional Research Paper No. 26; 1999; Kirkham L, Loft A. Gender and the construction of the professional accountant. Acc Organ Soc 1993;18:507–58; Tinker T, Neimark M. The role of annual reports in gender and class contradictions at General Motors 1917–1976. Acc Organ Soc 1987;12(3–4):71–88]), and has demonstrated how social accounts of organisations are generated and represented [Adams CA, Harte G. The changing portrayal of the employment of women in British banks and retail companies’ corporate annual reports. Acc Organ Soc 1998;23(8):781–812; O’Dwyer. The construction of a social account: a case study in an overseas aid agency. Acc Organ Soc 2005;30:279–96]. In producing this paper, we seek to extend such approaches to include race and ethnicity. Thus, our purpose is to reach an explanation as to why, when for 3 decades during which legislation has been in place to outlaw unfair discrimination, and when organisations have policies purporting to support and serve that legislative framework, ethnic minority women continue to struggle for corporate acceptance and progression.