Women's Experiences Research Articles

Examining Ableism Through the Physical Activity Experiences of Blind and Visually Impaired Women.

This study examined how ableism influences blind and visually impaired women's experiences accessing and engaging in exercise, physical activity, and sport. Ten women between the ages of 27 and 45years completed a one-on-one audio-recorded virtual interview where they reflected on the meaningfulness of their exercise, physical activity, and/or sport experiences, as well as described any experiences related to direct, indirect, systemic, or internalized ableism within or when attempting to access those physical activity experiences. The interview transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in the construction of 2 themes that depicted the participants' experiences: (1)"It's exhausting": navigating inaccessibility and (2)"You feel like a fish out of water": internalized ableism. The themes highlight the participants' experiences which were largely focused on being forced to navigate inaccessible environments which resulted in exhaustion and expressions of internalized ableism. These findings provide insight into what makes and does not make a physical activity space accessible and welcoming for blind and visually impaired adults.

Understanding of perinatal mental health and its psychosocial determinants through Ukrainian women's experience.

Perinatal mental health defines new mothers, their families, and the social, emotional, and cognitive development of their children. The factors contributing to Ukrainian mothers' mental health are not well-defined in the literature. This study aims to explore how Ukrainian women understand mental health and its psychosocial determinants through their perinatal experience. This qualitative analysis is part of a larger mixed-methods study exploring perinatal mental health in Ukraine. Five online focus groups (n=30) with Ukrainian mothers of children aged 0-5 years were conducted in June-July 2020. The participants were selected from a pool of 1634 women who completed an online questionnaire and agreed to participate in further research. Informed consent was obtained. The data collected from the focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using Dedoose software. The study identified two themes. The first theme was: 'Understanding perinatal mental health through women's experience', which covers five subthemes. The second theme was 'Psychosocial determinants of maternal mental health', which includes six subthemes. Overall, women's feelings of guilt, blame, and shame during their perinatal journey are influenced by socio-cultural factors and can lead to mental health problems and reluctance to seek proper help. The study has identified some factors that can contribute to the enhancement of mental health and well-being of mothers in Ukraine during their perinatal journey. Negative emotions such as guilt, blame, and shame can have a significant impact on their ability to seek the necessary support, and should be addressed by midwives and other healthcare professionals.

The World of Women's Despair: An Unfolding Unitary Conceptual Journey.

In looking back over 3 decades since the development of his interest in developing a unitary conceptualization of despair, nurse scholar W. Richard Cowling, III, had new insights and revelations. The purpose of this dialogue article is to re-envision this journey as one of unfolding, seen with the gift of new eyes. Revisiting this journey allowed him to understand and appreciate it anew. Horizons of possibilities of this conceptual journey are explained in terms of conceptual-theoretical development, inquiry, and the advancement of discipline-specific knowledge, and improving the lives of women in despair. It is his sincere hope, as with all meaningful scholarly endeavors, that a wider discourse occurs with the persistent inclusion of women's voices and experiences.

Women's experiences of unplanned out of hospital deliveries: a narrative analysis

Women's experiences of unplanned out of hospital deliveries: a narrative analysis

Journey in the Impure Land: Buddhist Pilgrimage and Perceptions of Life and Old Age in Vietnam.

Religiously inspired travel has burgeoned in Vietnam in recent years, amidst rapid economic development and a booming tourist industry. Buddhist pilgrimages particularly attract older women, who compose the majority of temple goers in Vietnam. Having lived through volatile historical periods of war, economic hardship, and political transformations, travelling on pilgrimage is the first opportunity for many older Vietnamese women to enjoy new places and experiences. Drawing on data collected during my field research among Buddhist women pilgrims in their sixties and seventies from Ho Chi Minh City, I show how pilgrimage is seen as a journey of a lifetime and how it reflects the perception of life and self-transformation along the life course. Drawing on Victor and Edith Turner's (1978 [2011]) discussion of pilgrimage as the antistructure of everyday social life, this paper explains why pilgrimage is markedly different from other life experiences of Vietnamese women, and how religious travel positions old age not as the culmination of self-development, but rather as an ongoing process of gaining wisdom.

Women's experiences of sexual harassment in the retail clothing industry: a grounded theory study.

Sexual harassment is a significant problem in workplaces all over the world. Women's reactions to sexual harassment are influenced by various factors. The aim of the current study was to investigate how women respond sexual harassment in the retail clothing industry. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 women aged 23-44 years (mean 29.18 years) employed for at least 3 years in clothes shops in Shiraz, Iran. A grounded theory approach was used to analysis the data and raise hypotheses. The main perpetrators of sexual harassment for female saleswomen were male customers. The women experienced conflict-induced stimulation (core phenomenon) when they were faced with sexual harassing behaviors (causal conditions). Such stimulation prompted three types of coping strategies: silence, avoidance, or confrontation. Intervening factors like the characteristics of the Iranian society (including family mores, state-imposed hijab regulations, patriarchal culture, educational system, and regulatory monitoring) and contextual factors (including individual and environmental factors and particularly employer expectations) were found to influence the selection of strategies used as well as their potential consequences in challenging situations. The current study used a grounded theory approach to produce an explanatory storyline that can be tested. Sexual harassment induces conflict-induced stimulation and responses are influenced by intervening conditions, contextual factors, selected strategies, and the perceived consequences of the response. The findings of the grounded theory study suggest that there are negative consequences, particularly in terms of lack of employer support and losing one's job, shame, and family disapproval which act as barriers for female saleswomen to counteracting sexual harassment from male customers. Such an understanding can also be applied to develop educational policies to support women as well as ameliorate the prevalence of this essentially illegal problem.

Navigating tradition: agency of young urban women in Kyrgyzstan during wedding negotiations and early marriage

ABSTRACT Daughters-in-law (or kelins 1 in the Kyrgyz language) have traditionally been portrayed in Kyrgyz society as holding a low social status, and are commonly subject to oppressive and negative practices within the family structure. This study examines the experiences of young women from urban communities during their wedding preparations and the initial years of living with their husband’s parents. The study investigates the strategies that young women employ during interactions with their in-laws throughout the negotiation and decision-making processes regarding their wedding and future married life. The transcripts of six interviews with recently married women were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings discuss the respondents’ discursive positions regarding their experiences as brides and daughters-in-law.

Unveiling the veil: an examination of gender oppression in Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns

ABSTRACT The Taliban administration (1996–2001) undoubtedly inflicted unimaginable suffering on Afghan women, but the struggle for gender equality in Afghanistan has deep roots. In his novel, ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’, Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini vividly portrays the harrowing experiences of women before, during, and after the war. To scrutinise the oppression of Afghan women as depicted in the novel, this study draws upon Iris Marion Young's theory of oppression. Young contended that women in a society endure oppression when they confront exploitation, marginalisation, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence at the hands of men. This research unveils the physical, mental, and sexual abuse experienced by female characters, examining their inferior status through the lens of Young's ‘Five Faces of Oppression' and connecting it to the actual suffering of women in Afghanistan's male-dominated society. Therefore, it becomes unequivocally clear from this study that the female characters in Hosseini's narrative endure lives of oppression under the relentless dominion of patriarchy. The study further substantiates that Afghan women live lives marked by oppression, shedding light on their subjugation by patriarchal forces in Afghanistan's socio-cultural landscape.

"Perinatal loss, a devastating cyclone": A situation-specific nursing theory.

The aim of this paper is to develop a preliminary theory that explores in depth into understanding the experiences of women who have suffered a spontaneous perinatal loss during any trimester of their pregnancy regarding their emotional response to this loss. A grounded theory approach was used, and 25 in-depth interviews were conducted with Spanish women who suffered a spontaneous perinatal loss. Theoretical sampling and constant comparative analysis were used to reach theoretical saturation. EQUATOR guidelines were followed, using the COREQ checklist. The "Perinatal loss, a devastating cyclone," a situation-specific nursing theory, explains the process that a woman experiences when she loses her baby at any stage of pregnancy, drawing an analogy with tropical cyclones as natural disasters that destroy everything in their path. This situation-specific theory includes three dimensions, explaining the phases identified in the perinatal loss process (phase prior to impact [before the perinatal loss], impact phase [diagnostic moment], emergency phase [hospital care], relief or honeymoon phase [return home], disillusionment or stock-taking phase [after the first postloss days at home], reconstruction and recovery phase [grief construction process] and consequences [with an eye to the future]). Three intervention areas were described around the perinatal loss process: "rescue area" (partner, grandparents, and siblings of the deceased baby), "relief area" (healthcare professionals), and "base camp" (society). The situation-specific nursing theory "Perinatal loss, a devastating cyclone" is the final product of a grounded theory study that provided an in-depth analysis of women's experiences when they suffer a spontaneous perinatal loss at any point in their pregnancy. The situation-specific theory "Perinatal loss, a devastating cyclone" with the seven identified phases and the three areas of intervention could be used as a framework for healthcare professionals in their clinical practice as a guide to support women in this disfranchised grief.

EFFECTIVENESS OF BACK MASSAGE & LAMAZE BREATHING ON LABOR OUTCOMES AMONG PRIMIGRAVIDA IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS, LAHORE PAKISTAN: A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Labor pain is the most severe pain that first-time pregnant women experience during pregnancy and childbirth. If labor pain and anxiety are not addressed, they can lead to abnormal labor. Although there are many complementary non-pharmacological approaches to coping with labor pain, the quality of evidence is low and the best approaches are not established. This study protocol describes a proposed investigation of the effects of Lamaze breathing exercises and back massage on the labor experiences of first-time pregnant women.

"Treat Me Like a Person": Unveiling Healthcare Narratives of Muslim Women who Wear Islamic Head Coverings Through a Poststructural Narrative Study.

In Canada, the healthcare experiences and needs of Muslim women who wear Islamic head coverings are conflated with the larger Muslim community who do not wear Islamic head coverings. Understanding their specific and unique preferences and challenges is essential for tailoring care and improving healthcare encounters. The study purpose is to explore the healthcare encounters of Muslim women wearing Islamic head coverings in Canada, focusing on how discourse influences their narratives. A postructuralist narrative methodology was used to understand how power, knowledge, language, and discourse impacted their experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight Muslim women. Narrative analysis was used to dissect stories and the way these stories were told. Five themes were identified, including: The Fingerprint: Highlights the importance of recognizing individual identities to provide personalized care.The Membrane: Examines how societal biases and assumptions permeate healthcare professionals and impacts care.The Heartbeat: Reveals the immediate emotional and physical responses that reflect systemic challenges within healthcare encounters.Unseen: Emphasizes the lack of acknowledgement experienced by Muslim women related to their healthcare preferences and/or needs.Heard: Encompasses instances where Muslim women feel recognized by their healthcare provider; contrasts Theme #4. This research emphasizes the diverse experiences of Muslim woman who wear an Islamic head covering and the need for healthcare professionals to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and instead, provide care that respects the unique preferences amongst this diverse group.

Exclusion, belonging and mental wellness: the sporting and physically active leisure experiences of women in rural Australia

ABSTRACT This study examined how access to, and experiences in, physically active leisure and/or sport impact on women’s physical, social, and emotional health and mental wellness in rural or remote communities across Australia. The online, open-ended survey participants were 92 females, aged 18–76 years (M = 44 years), including 64 women who were university educated, 20 aged 60 years and over, 10 from diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI) and seven First Nations Australians. Through a framework of intersectionality and an integrative theory for belonging, three key themes describing the women's experiences were uncovered: welcoming and inclusive spaces, mental wellness, and unwelcoming spaces and exclusion. Nuances across age, ethnocultural background and sexuality were identified in the data, as well as how intersections of gender and place/rurality affected women’s perceived overall health and mental wellness. These findings have implications for sport and leisure programming and policies in rural contexts.

Psychosocial dimension of adolescent pregnancy: a phenomenological study on life experiences

ABSTRACT Aim This study aimed to assess the lived experiences of adolescent pregnant young women, with a specific focus on the psychosocial aspect of adolescent pregnancy, using a phenomenological approach. Design Employing the phenomenological research method, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted between 3 August and 18 August 2023 with 15 young women (mean age = 21.86 years; SD = 1.06) living in a province in eastern Turkey who had undergone adolescent pregnancy 3–5 years before. Methods The criterion sampling method, a form of purposive sampling, was used to form the sample group. Interviews were carried out until data saturation was reached. All interviews were recorded and transcribed, and thematic analysis was utilised to analyse the data. The study adhered to the COREQ checklist for reporting. Results Through data analysis, three main categories (reflections on adolescent pregnancy, challenges due to adolescent pregnancy, and effects of adolescent pregnancy) and nine sub-themes (emotions, roles and responsibilities, perception of social support, cognitive, emotional, behavioural, mental, physical, and social) emerged. Conclusion Our study highlights the adverse psychosocial impact of adolescent pregnancy on young women. Young women who got married at an early age before attaining full physical, social, and psychological maturity grappled with the substantial burdens of adolescent pregnancy and adjusting to their new roles. The study’s implications are significant, emphasising the necessity of addressing the psychosocial facets of adolescent marriage and pregnancy, and gaining valuable insights for the future.

Pain and other complications of pelvic mesh: a systematic review of qualitative studies and thematic synthesis of women’s accounts

ObjectivesSynthesis of the experience of women with pain from pelvic or vaginal mesh or its removal, to identify pain-related problems and to formulate psychological aspects of pain.DesignSystematic review and thematic...

A Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches for Managing Labour Pain using Synthetic Drugs and Natural Therapies.

The birth of a child is a critical and potentially traumatic experience for women, entailing multiple physiological and psychosocial changes. The psychological effects of childbirth pain can have both immediate and long-term effects on the mother's health and her bond with her child. Many studies investigated the different ranges of synthetic drugs available for pain control in labour, inclusive of neuraxial analgesics, inhaled analgesics, and various opioids. The inadequate efficacy and unfavourable side effects of these synthetic drugs prevent appropriate pharmacotherapy, resulting in a quest for natural therapies for reducing labour pain. Herbal therapies (aromatherapy) using several essential oils obtained from various natural plants are another alternative that calms and manages the mind and body through aromatic compounds that have neurological and physiological effects. The review discussed the safety profile of various synthetic drugs with their dosage information and also deliberated on the mechanism and safety profile of various natural plants that are used in aromatherapy. The review also briefly highlighted the other non-pharmacological miscellaneous techniques such as TENS, hypnosis, immersion in water, acupuncture, massage, and different other tactics that aim to assist women in coping with pain in labour.

Do political quotas work? Gender quotas and women’s political participation in Nepal

This article presents an investigation into the lives and lived experiences of women who joined politics through quotas. In particular, it explores the transformative potential of a quota policy through the ‘subject position’ of women politicians in Nepal, especially those who had no prior background in politics before being elected to their first political positions. Using Bourdieu’s theory of capital, I reveal how political quotas have strengthened women’s overall capital, allowing them to improve their position in both their families and society. Quotas have created new roles for women. The power and prestige attached to these new roles have not only offered some immediate changes to these women’s lives, but also led to changing perceptions of women in politics, shifting the discourse from a view of women’s participation in politics as an exception to one of it as an entitlement. This article is based on a qualitative study carried out with women politicians in Nepal.

Impact of the oral contraceptive pill on the rate of ovarian cancer incidence in different races of women.

10521 Background: The rate of ovarian cancer incidence has drastically decreased over the years, though it is the fifth most leading cause of cancer death in women. Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) are a major cause for the decline due to decreasing the number of ovulations in a woman’s lifetime. In fact, women who have ever used OCPs have a 30-50% lower risk of ovarian cancer incidence compared to women who have never used OCP. This study compares the use of OCP in different races of women and its effect on the decline in incidence of ovarian cancer. Methods: The average rate of incidence per 100,000 cases per year for ovarian cancer in White, Asian and Black females was obtained from the National Program of Cancer Registries and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program SEER*Stat Database: NPCR and SEER Incidence – U.S. Cancer Statistics 2001–2019 Public Use Research Database. The National Center for Health Statistics, National Survey of Family Growth was used to find ever use of OCP among sexually experienced women ages 15–49 in the United States for 2002 and 2015-2019. Results: White women, in the year 2002 and 2019 had a rate of ever OCP use of 87% and 87.5% respectively. During that same time period, they had the most drastic decrease in ovarian cancer incidence of 43%, compared to Black and Asian female population. In 2002, the incidence rate of ovarian cancer for White women was 14.6 per 100,000. 17 years later, in 2019, it dropped to 10.2 per 100,000. Black women had the second highest ever use of OCP and the second highest rate of change for ovarian cancer incidence. In 2002, 79.1% of Black women had ever used OCPs compared to 73% in 2019. In 17 years, the incidence rate per 100,00 decreased 39% for Black women. Incidence rate per 100,000 in 2002 was 10.4 and incidence rate in 2019 was 7.5 per 100,000. Asian women comparatively had the lowest ever use of OCP and the lowest rate of change for ovarian cancer incidence. Data was not available for 2002, but in 2019, Asian women’s ever use of OCP was 65.6%. Incidence of ovarian cancer for Asian women decreased by 21% between the years 2002 to 2019. Rate per 100,000 was 10.8 in 2002 and decreased to 8.9 per 100,000 in 2019. Conclusions: The oral contraceptive pill was made available in the year 1960. Since then, it has been a large factor as to why ovarian cancer incidence has declined. Healthcare disparities and cultural differences play a part in the rate of OCP use across different races of women. This, in turn, leads to varying levels of ovarian cancer incidence decline with White women having the highest rate, followed by Black, then Asian women. Ovarian cancer has a high mortality due to inadequate screening techniques and late diagnosis which is perpetuated by cultural barriers to receiving care. A decreased risk of ovarian cancer should be considered as a benefit when prescribing OCPs and a protective factor among all studied races.

Structural gendered racism as conceptualized by immigrant women in the United States

RationaleImmigrants represent a rapidly growing proportion of the population, yet the many ways in which structural inequities, including racism, xenophobia, and sexism, influence their health remains largely understudied. Perspectives from immigrant women can highlight intersectional dimensions of structural gendered racism and the ways in which racial and gender-based systems of structural oppression interact. ObjectiveThis study aims to show the multilevel manifestations of structural gendered racism in the health experiences of immigrant women living in New York City. MethodSemi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted in 2020 and 2021 with 44 cisgender immigrant women from different national origins in New York City to explore how immigrant women experienced structural gendered racism and its pathways to their health. Interviews were thematically analyzed using a constant comparative approach. ResultsParticipants expressed intersectional dimensions of structural gendered racism and the anti-immigrant climate through restrictive immigration policy and issues related to citizenship status, disproportionate immigration enforcement and criminalization, economic exploitation, and gendered interpersonal racism experienced across a range of systems and contexts. Participants weighed their concerns for safety and facing racism as part of their life course and health decisions for themselves and their families. ConclusionsThe perspectives and experiences of immigrant women are key to identifying multilevel solutions for the burdens of structural gendered racism, particularly among individuals and communities of non-U.S. national origin. Understanding how racism, sexism, xenophobia, and intersecting systems of oppression impact immigrant women is critical for advancing health equity.

“We restrict certain things”: a cross-sectional study of health provider adherence to WHO’s recommendation for intrapartum oral intake of fluid and food in Greater Accra, Ghana

BackgroundSince 2018, WHO recommends oral fluid and food intake for low-risk women during labor to enhance positive childbirth experience and respect for women’s preferences. This study investigated the current practices related to intrapartum oral intake among maternity care providers and women in public health facilities in Greater Accra, Ghana, and explored barriers and opportunities for adherence to the WHO guidance.MethodsWe used a mixed-method design at five public health facilities in Greater Accra, Ghana, which included structured interviews with 11 facility-level quality improvement staff and 12 maternity care providers; a knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey with the same providers; and a client survey with 56 inpatient postpartum women. We conducted descriptive and inferential statistics, including z-tests to assess independent and dependent variables, and inductive thematic analyses.ResultsProvider adherence to the WHO recommendation varied, with many imposing restrictions on oral intake during labor. Concerns included potential complications like Mendelson’s syndrome, consequently framing oral intake decisions as clinical and leading providers to limit women’s involvement in their care decisions. Within our sample, 54% and 43% women reported their provider counseled them on oral fluid and food intake respectively, while 41% and 34% reported their provider asked them their preference for drinking and eating respectively. Ultimately, 73% drank fluids and 19% ate food during their labor. Counseling significantly correlated with women’s intake practices (p < 0.01) and providers’ inquiry to women’s preferences for drinking and eating (p < 0.001) during labor.ConclusionAdherence to evidence-based practices for intrapartum oral intake among low-risk women was inconsistence. Maternity care providers play a vital role in involving women in their care decisions and respecting women’s preferences. Strengthening national-level labor care guidelines and provider quality improvement approaches like in-service training, supportive supervision, and job aides to include the WHO recommendation will help providers adhere to the guidance and contribute to promoting a positive childbirth experience for women.

Negotiating between speech and silence as a form of agency: Understanding Dalit women's experiences of sexual violence in India

This article explores the complexities of non-disclosure among female Dalit survivors of rape who negotiate between speech and silence as a means of exercising agency. It analyses the role of Brahmanical patriarchy, Dalit feminism and social constructionist theory to unpack the silence, shame, secrecy and cultural censorship surrounding sex and sexual violence both in India at large and for Dalit women in particular. The study comprised 28 qualitative interviews with Dalit women who had been raped by men; it employs Foucault's notion of resistance, regulation and subjectivity to explore when and to whom these participants chose to disclose their rape. It thus seeks to theories these women's varied responses to their rape as acts of agency and resistance, demonstrating how silence can operate on multiple levels: individual, family and community. It draws on India's #LoSHA movement to demonstrate the dangers of universalizing victim-survivors' experiences of sexual violence and to parse the complexities of speaking out or remaining silent and how these play out in individual and collective contexts. In focusing on Dalit women and situating their non-disclosure within an intersectional context, this work differentiates between the passivity of being silenced and the agency and resistance inherent in the decision to remain silent. Therefore, this paper makes a unique contribution to the literature on patriarchy, Dalit studies, feminism and social constructivism.