Indian Young Women Research Articles

“What kind of girl is she?”: good and bad diasporic daughters on social media

ABSTRACT Social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, act as online spaces where young migrants can engage in diasporic practices. This research captures the ways in which Indian young women living in Australia perform the “good girl” and “bad girl” on social media as a means through which to showcase their hybrid identities. With a focus on social media, the research stems from an investigation into the processes of identity construction for young migrants. The use of PhotoVoice and digital diaries were employed to assist with visualising the online identity performativities of the participants. The findings highlight the continued importance for the young women to be seen as good diasporic daughters who follow traditional roles of Indian womanhood; however, it will be shown how social media settings can be manipulated in such a way that the young women are able to contest these traditional roles and perform “bad” Indian behaviour.

Why Most Indian Young Women are Unhappy with Their Sex Lives

Why Most Indian Young Women are Unhappy with Their Sex Lives

PP.06.06] CAN ARTERIAL WAVE AUGMENTATION IN YOUNG ADULTS EXPLAIN VARIABILITY OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN ETHNIC MINORITIES?

Objective: Traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors do not fully explain ethnic differences in CV disease. We tested if pulse wave velocity (PWV) and Augmentation Index (AIx), both independent predictors of later adult mortality, and their determinants from childhood may underlie ethnic variability in CV risk as young adults in the ‘DASH’ longitudinal study. Design and method: Details of our DASH study's longitudinal design can be found at http://dash.sphsu.mrc.ac.uk/, DASH includes representative samples of 6 main UK ethnic groups, starting at school aged 11–13y, followed again at 14–16y, both with anthropometry, blood pressures (BP) and psychosocial measures. PWV and AIx were then recorded using the Arteriograph device at ages 21–23y in a random sub-sample (n = 666). For n = 334, physical activity (PA) was also measured over 5 days (ActivPal). Results: Unadjusted PWVs in Black Caribbean and White UK young men were similar (7.9 + 0.3 vs 7.6 + 0.4 m/s) and lower in other ethnic groups at similar systolic (s)BPs (120mmHg) and BMIs (24.6 kg/m2). In fully adjusted regression models, independent of BP effects, Black Caribbeans, Black African and Indian young women had lower PWV (by 0.5–0.8, 95%CI 0.1–1.1 m/s) than did White UK women (6.9 + 0.2m/sec). Conversely, AIx appeared to be higher in ethnic minority groups - Indian (15.1, 13.0–17.2,%), Bangladeshi/Pakistani (15.7, 13.7–17.7,%), Caribbean (14.9, 12.3–17.0,%) and West African (15.3, 12.9–17.7,%) compared with White UK (11.9, 10.2–13.6,%), In multivariate models, adjusted for gender, central systolic BP, height and heart rate, Indian and Bangladeshi/Pakistani young adults had higher AIx (β = 3.35 and 4.20, p < 0.01) than White UK; with a similar trend for West African and Caribbeans, but not statistically significant (p = 0.08). PA, psychosocial or deprivation measures were not associated with AIx, with borderline associations from brachial BP but no other childhood variables. Conclusions: At this age AIx rather than arterial stiffness may be a useful tool for testing components of excess CV risk in some ethnic minority groups.

Unpredicted Trajectories: The Relationship Between Race/Ethnicity, Pregnancy During Adolescence, and Young Women's Outcomes

Adolescents who become pregnant in the United States are at higher risk for a myriad of health concerns. One would predict even more adverse health outcomes among pregnant adolescents who are from disadvantaged racial/ethnic groups; however, previous studies indirectly suggest the opposite. This study examines whether adolescents from racial/ethnic minority groups are less affected by adolescent pregnancy compared to white adolescents. We used data from 1,867 adolescents participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1995-2001). Our predictor variable was self-reported race/ethnicity. Self-perception of health, educational attainment, and public assistance use in young adulthood were outcome measures. We conducted weighted multivariate logistic regressions and analyzed how adolescent pregnancy modified the relationship between our predictor and outcome variables. Black and American Indian young women had significantly higher odds than white young women of receiving public assistance (OR, 2.6 and 2.7, respectively; p <.01) and even higher odds if ever pregnant in adolescence (OR, 4.2 and 19.0, respectively; p = .03). White young women had significantly lower odds of high educational attainment if they had a live birth in adolescence as compared to those who had not (OR, 0.1; CI = 0.1-0.4). These findings support studies that found adolescent pregnancy increases the risk of public assistance use and low educational attainment. The study shows that, for educational attainment, black young women who become pregnant may not be as disadvantaged as their peers, whereas white young women who become pregnant are more disadvantaged.

Self-rated health among Mayan women participating in a randomised intervention trial reducing indoor air pollution in Guatemala

BackgroundIndoor air pollution (IAP) from solid fuels is a serious health problem in low-income countries that can be alleviated using improved stoves. Although women are the principal users, few studies have investigated the self-assessed impact of the stoves on their health and lives.MethodsThis study was conducted in rural highland Guatemala, involving 89 intervention and 80 control Mayan Indian young women (mean 27.8 years, SD 7.2). Outcomes were assessed after approximately 18 months use of the new stove. Our objectives were to compare self-rated health and change in health among women participating in a randomised control trial comparing a chimney stove with an open fire, to describe impacts on women's daily lives and their perceptions of how reduced kitchen smoke affects their own and their children's health.ResultsOn intention-to-treat analysis, 52.8% of intervention women reported improvement in health, compared to 23.8% of control women (p < 0.001). Among 84 intervention women who reported reduced kitchen smoke as an important change, 88% linked this to improvement in their own health, particularly for non-respiratory symptoms (for example eye discomfort, headache); 57% linked reduced smoke to improvement in their children's health, particularly sore eyes.ConclusionWomen's perception of their health was improved, but although smoke reduction was valued, this was linked mainly with alleviation of non-respiratory symptoms like eye discomfort and headache. More focus on such symptoms may help in promoting demand for improved stoves and cleaner fuels, but education about more severe consequences of IAP exposure is also required.