Women's Perceptions Research Articles

Gender, race, and space: A qualitative exploration of young Black women's perceptions of urban neighborhoods.

How people think and feel about their neighborhood impacts the way they think of themselves and their futures. These linkages are especially important to understand in the case of urban-residing young Black women. Researchers know very little about what contributes to young Black adults' urban neighborhood perceptions and often rely on "expert" definitions of markers of neighborhood quality. These definitions and subsequent explorations of residents' neighborhood assessment have not adequately considered intersecting oppressive systems that structure urban spaces both physically and socially. Further, within-group diversity of young Black adults based on other social identities, such as gender and class, has gone underexplored in research on residents' neighborhood assessment. We used theory from Black feminist geography and sociology to guide our thematic analysis of interviews with young Black women (N = 9) regarding their urban neighborhood quality. We sought to explore the aspects or features of the neighborhood that young Black women discussed and how social identities may play a role in young Black women's descriptions of their urban neighborhoods. We argue three themes tell an overarching story of young Black women's urban spatial critical analysis: (1) outsiders' perceptions versus our realities, (2) gendered safety, and (3) visibility of young Black women. Young Black women's narratives highlighted communal aspects of neighborhood evaluation and attention to dominant narratives regarding marginalized groups and urban spaces.

"The Headline Was So Wild That I Had To Check": An Exploration of Women's Encounters With Health Misinformation on Social Media

Misinformation has emerged as a significant threat to public health in recent years and has been observed across numerous health issues, the most prolific being COVID-19. Though increasing attention has been paid to women's health within the social scientific and HCI communities, very little research has holistically explored the unique challenges women face when navigating health misinformation. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative diary and interview study aimed at investigating women's perceptions and lived experiences of health misinformation on social media, and how they respond emotionally and behaviourally to health misinformation encountered in their day-to-day lives. We found that participants perceived health misinformation as ubiquitous and poorly-managed by social media platforms, resulting in a lack of trust in current moderation and fact-checking interventions. We also observed that encounters with misinformation triggered negative emotional responses, which participants attempted to navigate through ad-hoc strategies such as drawing on personal experience and reading social media comment sections, which facilitated collective sensemaking. We discuss our findings in relation to the design of targeted interventions which empower women to engage constructively with health information on social media. In particular, we underscore the importance of trust, accountability, and intersectionality in future design and research practice, and encourage a holistic view of how women are impacted by misinformation.

Navigating office politics: How do self-concept and upward voice influence women's workplace well-being?

Using the Job Demands-Resources theory, this study examines how organisational politics and self-concept affect women employees’ voice and workplace well-being (WWB). It employs an explanatory-sequential design, with study 1 (quantitative research, n = 463) using experimental vignettes and scale measures to test the hypotheses, followed by study 2 (qualitative research, n = 12) using in-depth interviews to explain the quantitative results. It was found that women's perceptions of organisational politics debilitated their WWB mediated by their voices. Furthermore, the “relational” self-concept moderated the mediated association, which reduced the negative impact. The study goes beyond the typical conception of work-family balance to provide strategies for improving women's work experiences.

Reproductive coercion and abuse in intimate relationships: Women's perceptions of perpetrator motivations.

Reproductive coercion and abuse is a hidden and poorly recognised form of violence against women. It refers broadly to behaviours that interfere with or undermine a person's reproductive autonomy, specifically to promote or prevent pregnancy. Reproductive coercion and abuse can involve physical, sexual, financial or psychological abuse in order to achieve these aims, and is overwhelmingly perpetrated by men against women. As an emerging field of scholarship, conceptual understanding of reproductive coercion and abuse is still in its infancy; however, it is often described as being linked to coercive control. In this article, we seek to highlight the complexity of this relationship through qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 30 victim/survivors in Australia recruited from the community, focusing on their perceptions of the perpetrator's motivations. We developed four themes from our analysis: 1) His needs came first; 2) The illusion of a perfect father; 3) Creating a weapon of control; and 4) My body was his. Perceived perpetrator motivations ranged from entitlement and self-interest to a deep desire for domination and entrapment. Pregnancy preventing behaviour was more likely to be linked with entitlement and self-interest, whereas pregnancy promoting behaviour tended to be described by participants in relationships where there was a broader pattern of ongoing control and entrapment. Thus, we suggest that coercive control is a motivating factor for some, but not all men who perpetrate reproductive coercion and abuse. A greater understanding perpetrator motivations may be important for practitioners, particularly those working in sexual and reproductive health services, since it could be relevant to women's level of risk for coercive controlling behaviour or more extreme forms of physical or sexual violence.

A Study on Working Women Perception Towards Gold Investment in Coimbatore City

In today's scenario, women are financially independent and keen on turning their savings into investments. Gold holds a special place in their investment portfolios, being a significant avenue in India. The study aims to identify the preferred gold investment options and assess the awareness and satisfaction levels of women investors. Primary data was collected through a well-structured questionnaire from 117 randomly selected women respondents in Coimbatore City.

Implementing supplementary breast cancer screening in women with dense breasts: Insights from European radiographers and radiologists

IntroductionIn response to the critical need for enhancing breast cancer screening for women with dense breasts, this study explored the understanding of challenges and requirements for implementing supplementary breast cancer screening for such women among clinical radiographers and radiologists in Europe. MethodFourteen (14) semi-structured online interviews were conducted with European clinical radiologists (n = 5) and radiographers (n = 9) specializing in breast cancer screening from 8 different countries: Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom. The interview schedule comprised questions regarding professional background and demographics and 13 key questions divided into six subgroups, namely Supplementary Imaging, Training, Resources and Guidelines, Challenges, Implementing supplementary screening and Women's Perspective. Data analysis followed the six phases of reflexive thematic analysis. ResultsSix significant themes emerged from the data analysis: Understanding and experiences of supplementary imaging for women with dense breasts; Challenges and requirements related to training among clinical radiographers and radiologists; Awareness among radiographers and radiologists of guidelines on imaging women with dense breasts; Challenges to implement supplementary screening; Predictors of Implementing Supplementary screening; Views of radiologists and radiographers on women's perception towards supplementary screening. ConclusionThe interviews with radiographers and radiologists provided valuable insights into the challenges and potential strategies for implementing supplementary breast cancer screening. These challenges included patient and staff related challenges. Implementing multifaceted solutions such as Artificial Intelligence integration, specialized training and resource investment can address these challenges and promote the successful implementation of supplementary screening. Further research and collaboration are needed to refine and implement these strategies effectively. Implications for practiceThis study highlights the urgent need for specialized training programs and dedicated resources to enhance supplementary breast cancer screening for women with dense breasts in Europe. These resources include advanced imaging technologies, such as MRI or ultrasound, and specialized software for image analysis. Moreover, further research is imperative to refine screening protocols and evaluate their efficacy and cost-effectiveness, based on the findings of this study.

Spillover effects on the relationship with the partner of a mentalization-based intervention for pregnant women.

The birth of a child has been associated with a decline in couple satisfaction, which has implications for the child's social-emotional development. This study investigated the potential spillover effect on pregnant women's perceptions of their relationships with their partners of the Supporting the Transition to and Engagement in Parenthood (STEP) program, a brief trauma-informed mentalization-based prenatal group intervention. Participants (94% White) were recruited in prenatal clinics and through online advertisements in Quebec, Canada. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from participants assigned to the STEP program (n = 42) and those receiving treatment-as-usual (TAU; n = 125). Women participating in STEP reported significant improvements in their relationships with their partners compared to those assigned to TAU. More precisely, they reported higher couple satisfaction, enhanced communication, and increased interest in their partners' emotional experience. The qualitative analysis further substantiated these results, with participants reporting having involved their partners in their pregnancy, shared their insights about themselves with their partners and gained fresh perspectives on their relationships. Participants in STEP also expressed sharing program materials with their partners and considered that such interventions should be extended to expecting fathers. This study underscores the potential of mentalization-based interventions to indirectly contribute to couple relationships, which may have positive implications for parenting and the infant.

Rape Victims' Perceptions of Quality of Encounters With the Swedish Police.

This study focused on raped women's perceptions of their encounters with Swedish police, with a specific focus on quality of encounters, trust, questions asked during police interviews, and perceptions of justice. One hundred and six rape victims, 74 of whom had reported to the police, answered a web-based questionnaire. Results show that where officers explained their line of questioning the perceived intrusiveness of the questioning was lower, as was the level of perceived victim-blaming. Higher quality police encounters were associated with higher trust in the legal system and in police work, and with higher levels of received justice. Findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed policing as a response to sexual assault and provide insights which might help inform policy and practice developments, both in Sweden and more generally.

A home-based educational intervention for cervical cancer screening services in rural Uganda

Background/Aims Despite the relative ease of prevention, the incidence of cervical cancer in Uganda is increasing and there is low uptake of screening services. One of the main contributing factors to low uptake is a lack of awareness. Targeting this barrier may help increase uptake and reduce the burden of cervical cancer. This study evaluated the effect of an educational intervention on knowledge, perception, intent to use and use of cervical cancer screening among women in rural southwestern Uganda. Methods This pre-test, post-test study was conducted with 150 women from a village in southwest Uganda, selected for its low uptake of cervical screening services. The home-based educational intervention consisted of a lecture and a discussion on cervical cancer and screening services. Data on women's knowledge, perceptions and use of screening services were captured at baseline and 7 weeks after the intervention, using a questionnaire. Chi-squared tests and paired sample t-tests were used to assess differences in participants' knowledge, perception and use of screening services. Results At baseline, participants had low scores for awareness, attitude and use of cervical screening. The intervention significantly improved knowledge (P<0.001), perception (P<0.001) and screening rate (P<0.001). Some participants' unwillingness to screen after the intervention was associated with marital status or religion. Conclusions The home-based health education intervention was effective in improving knowledge and perception of cervical cancer, and use of screening services. Use of this education intervention in rural regions of Uganda could be an effective strategy to increase use of screening services and thus improve early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.

The Relationship of the Traumatic Birth Perception of Women with Birth Memories and Recall.

A traumatic childbirth experience can have both short- and long-term health and well-being consequences for the woman and her family. If a woman experiences traumatic childbirth and retains negative memories for a long time, this may impact her future childbirth experience, mother-infant bonding and breastfeeding problems, and her relationship with other family members. The research was conducted to evaluate the relationship between women's traumatic birth perception and birth memory and recall. This descriptive study was conducted at Erzurum Research Hospital between August 16 and October 2021. Two hundred sixty women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study sample. The personal information protocol, "Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale," and "Birth Memories and Recall Questionnaire" were used to collect data. The participants' mean age was 30.13 ± 5.85, and 43.4% had their first birth. Of the participants, 45% had one living child, 72.9% had a planned pregnancy, and 62.8% had a normal birth. Whereas more than a third of women in the study perceived childbirth and childbirth processes as moderately traumatic, another third had a high and very high perception. The birth memories and recall mean scores of the mothers within the scope of the study were 81.09 ± 22.69. According to the study results, it was determined that women's birth memories and recall were negatively affected as their traumatic childbirth perceptions increased. It is possible to reduce traumatic childbirth perception with the continuous care and support provided by midwives during childbirth. Improving women's traumatic childbirth perception will also positively impact women's long-term memories of childbirth experience.

Women's experience of preterm birth in an East African context: a qualitative study.

Approximately 15 million children are born each year prematurely, representing more than 10 percent of all childbirths worldwide. Prematurity is an acute event and the leading cause of death among newborns and children under five. Sixty percent of these premature deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. The current study aimed to explore and understand women's experiences and perceptions regarding giving birth prematurely at the National Hospital of Muhimbili in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A qualitative method, using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach was chosen to understand and describe the women's experiences. A semi-structured guide was used during the interviews. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Eight in-depth interviews were conducted. The analysis revealed three superordinate themes: (a) Emotional turmoil: unmet expectations shattering maternal identity, emotional distress, and loss of hope; (b) Adapting to preterm birth and challenges: the unexpected situation, lack of proper care, strenuous breastfeeding routines, and socioeconomic challenges; (c) Significance of proper care and emotional support: good maternal care, mother-to-mother and family support. This study provided a deeper understanding of women's experiences and perceptions of premature childbirth. The current study indicated the importance of caregivers' awareness of the women's emotional distress, their need to adapt to a sudden unexpected situation, and the necessity of emotional support.

Women's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perception on Personalized Risk-Stratified Breast Cancer Screening: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malaysia.

Breast cancer is commonest cancer among Malaysian women and screening is essential for the early detection. Therefore our study aimed at measuring the levels of knowledge, attitude and perception towards personalized risk stratified breast cancer screening in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Malaysia to assess the knowledge, perception and attitudes of the women in Malaysia. The study was conducted using an online questionnaire, and samples were obtained using convenience sampling. The questionnaire was distributed trilingual in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese. The data was collected with content validated questionnaire. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and General Linear Model analysis in SPSS (Version 27). A total of 201 respondents' data were analyzed. From our study we were able to summarize that the women in Malaysia have a suboptimal knowledge towards personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening as only 48.9% aware of the term for personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening. Meanwhile, the majority of the respondents (96.7%) showed positive attitudes towards the importance of risk assessment and screening. Experience of participating in health education programmes about breast cancer and personalized risk-stratified screening was found to be significantly associated with knowledge, attitude and perception towards personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening. General population's awareness of individualized risk-stratified breast cancer screening was insufficient despite their favourable attitude towards the disease. A multimodal strategy may be used to improve women's knowledge, attitude, and perception of individualized risk-stratified breast cancer screening.

Saudi Women's Perception of the Effect of COVID-19 Infection and Vaccination on Menstrual Cycle Length.

This study was conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 virus and the vaccine on menstrual periods. The data from this study would increase people's awareness of the impacts of the virus and its vaccines on menstrual periods and serve as a reference for further studies. The data was collected through a web link where standardized close-ended questionnaires were distributed via several social media platforms in Saudi Arabia. The study included 691 respondents, with 411 women meeting the inclusion criteria. The majority of participants fell within the age range of 35-45, and 64% held at least a bachelor's degree. The Eastern region of Saudi Arabia had the highest percentage of participants, while the Northern region had the lowest. More than half of the participants were married, and 57% reported having been infected with COVID-19. The vast majority (99%) had received the COVID-19 vaccine, primarily the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The study assessed the association between menstruation experience and symptoms in three situations: before infection or vaccination, after COVID-19 infection, and after vaccination. Differences were observed in the length of the menstrual cycle and flow, but no statistically significant differences were found for pelvic and back pain. The result of this current study suggests that COVID-19 infection and/or vaccination has several effects on the menstrual cycle which changes in menses are minimal and transient.

Perception of Rural Women towards RKVY Trainings on post-harvest interventions and value addition

Perception of Rural Women towards RKVY Trainings on post-harvest interventions and value addition

Knowledge, Use, and Perception of Brazilian Women about Contraceptive Methods: An Observational Study.

In Brazil, where approximately 48.7 million women are of reproductive age, understanding contraceptive practices is essential for addressing public health challenges. This study evaluated into the knowledge, usage, and perceptions of contraceptive methods among Brazilian women, highlighting the influence of socioeconomic and demographic factors on their choices. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a representative sample of 2000 Brazilian women aged 18-49 years. The questionnaire collected detailed information on their awareness, preferences, and utilization of various contraceptive methods, alongside demographic and socioeconomic data. Oral contraceptives, condoms, injectables, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) were the most recognized methods. Younger women demonstrated greater awareness of modern methods. Socioeconomic disparities were evident, with lower-income women displaying limited knowledge about condoms and IUDs but a higher usage for injectable contraceptives. Oral contraceptives were the most used method, with higher use in the South, and lower in the Central-West and Northeast regions. Satisfaction with current contraceptive methods was high (87.5%), closely associated with personal responsibility in method choice. Although the majority self-financed their contraceptives (63.1%), a significant portion of lower-income women (27.7%) relied on public health care. Physicians' recommendations predominantly influenced contraceptive choice (53.9%), with younger women also guided by other influences. Persistent disparities in contraceptive awareness and access highlight the need for educational initiatives and policy interventions. Health care providers play a vital role in facilitating informed contraceptive choices, enhancing the chances of satisfaction with the method.

The impact of social media on women's physical appearance and self-esteem: A feminist perspective

This research paper investigates the impact of social media on women's physical appearance and self-esteem from a feminist perspective. Social media platforms have become pervasive in modern society, shaping beauty standards and influencing women's perceptions of themselves. Through a feminist lens, this paper examines how social media perpetuates unrealistic beauty ideals, fosters body dissatisfaction, and contributes to negative self-perception among women. Additionally, it explores the ways in which feminist movements and digital activism on social media challenge these harmful narratives and promote body positivity, self-acceptance, and inclusivity. By analysing the interplay between social media, feminism, and women's physical appearance, this paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between technology, gender, and self-esteem.

The Specifics of Self-Body Image Perception and Self-conception in Women with Different Body Mass Indexes

Introduction. Currently, a relevant object of research is the identification of differences in women’s perception of their actual weight and subjective assessment of their body image and self-conception in relation to weight. Since the perception of body image is greatly influenced by fashion trends and beauty standards broadcast in society, women may exhibit different cognitive and behavioral patterns depending on their body mass index.Objective. To study the relationship between the features of perception of body image and self-esteem in women with different body mass indexesMaterials and methods. The following methods were used in the study: author’s questionnaire-questionnaire of Yetumyan L. A. and Komerova N. A. and Komerova N. E.; Thomas Cash’s Multimodal Body Self-Relationship Questionnaire (MBSRQ, Thomas F. Cash) adapted by Baranskaya L. T. and Tataurova S. T. and Tataurova S. С. The Mann-Whitney U statistic for two independent samples and the r-Spearman rank correlation coefficient were used for mathematical processing of the data.Results. The study included 137 women with different BMI values ranging from 17 to 72 years of age. The mean age of the respondents was 35 years. According to our questionnaire survey, more than 40 % of respondents had overweight or obesity of the 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree. The results are presented by five scales reflecting the following parameters of attitude to one’s own body: evaluation of appearance, appearance orientation, satisfaction with body parameters, concern about being overweight, self-assessment of weight. The results of comparative analysis in two groups have been described – women with low and normal BMI and women with excessive BMI.Discussion. Women in groups with different body mass index have differences in their orientation to appearance. Thus, the higher the weight of women with high BMI, the lower they evaluate the level of their attractiveness and the less effort they put into improving their appearance. They are also more indifferent to appearance. No such correlation was found in women with low and normal BMI. The high importance of appearance for women from both subgroups is directly correlated with a high level of concern about excess weight, which indicates an attitude to one’s own weight as one of the factors determining external attractiveness.

Perceptions of Women in Turkey on the Concepts of “Caesarean Section” and “Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section”: A Metaphor Analysis

Background Determining how women make sense of their birth preferences with metaphor analysis will be an important step in determining perceptions about birth options.
 Objective The aim of this study is to examine the perceptions of women who had cesarean section regarding the concept of “cesarean birth” and “Vaginal birth after cesarean section” with metaphor analysis.
 Materials and Methods: This study is a qualitative research based on the philosophy of Husserl’s phenomenology, which was carried out between June and November 2022. Within the scope of the research, 50 women who had a cesarean section were interviewed face to face. The metaphor form prepared in line with the international literature was used to determine women’s perceptions of the concept of “Cesarean section” and “Vaginal birth after cesarean section”.
 Results 25 metaphors for cesarean birth and 28 metaphors for vaginal birth after caesarean section were identified. Considering the common features and analogy aspects of the metaphors obtained, three themes were determined within the scope of cesarean section and vaginal birth after caesarean section.
 Conclusions This study took a unique approach to revealing women’s birth experiences and perceptions. Vaginal birth after caesarean section is a very valuable birth method for women who have had a cesarean section and are curious about the feeling of vaginal birth.
 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 23 No. 02 April’24 Page : 418-428

A Qualitative Exploration of the Perceptions of Women Living with Pelvic Floor Disorders and Factors Related to Quality of Life.

Background: Pelvic floor dysfunction encompasses conditions like urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and pelvic pain, significantly affecting women's quality of life. Despite its prevalence, few studies have adopted a qualitative approach to understanding women's perceptions and emotions regarding these issues. This study aims to delve into how women with pelvic floor disorders perceive their condition and its impact on their daily lives. Methods: We analyzed qualitative data from interviews with 160 women suffering from pelvic floor dysfunctions. Using inductive qualitative content analysis, we systematically examined the data to identify variations, differences, and similarities. Results: The analysis revealed four primary themes in the women's narratives: "Physical Impacts", "Emotional and Psychological Impacts", "Social and Relational Impacts", and "Sexual Health Impacts", along with 12 subthemes. The findings predominantly highlight how pelvic floor dysfunctions detrimentally affect women's quality of life and emotional well-being, instilling fear and insecurity in daily activities, compounded by sleep disturbances and sexual dysfunction. Conclusions: Women living with pelvic floor dysfunction face multifaceted challenges that adversely affect various aspects of their lives, diminishing their overall quality of life. This includes notable impacts on sleep, physical, and sexual activities. However, not all affected women report these issues, often due to fear of stigma, choosing instead to conceal their struggles in an effort to maintain an appearance of normalcy.

“Why Is Your Interpretation of My Experience the Only One That Counts?” A Comparison of Providers’ and Young Women's Perceptions of Their Needs

This article draws on the author's 2023 Western Society of Criminology Paul Tappan Award address on her seminal work with adolescent girls in Flint Michigan. Echoing the major theme from that address, the article focuses on the need for practitioners and academics to collaborate and more actively engage in targeting programs relevant to the needs of young women. The Flint study identified great discrepancies between providers and girls regarding program relevancy and effectiveness, underscoring the importance of including adolescent girls’ voice in program development and evaluation, which is finally being addressed in contemporary programming.