Women Who Research Articles

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Can Help With Predicting Ovarian Failure for Premenopausal Women Who Have Undergone Ablative Radioiodine Treatment for Thyroid Cancer

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma is the most common endocrinological malignancy with an increasing incidence over the last 30 years, with women being more frequently affected. In indicated cases, total thyroidectomy followed by adjuvant radioiodine administration is performed, despite current trends towards less aggressive treatment. We would like to investigate the possible adverse effects of radioiodine (RAI) on ovarian function using a simple serum biomarker. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) appears to be the best endocrine marker for assessing physiological age-related oocyte loss for healthy women. The aim of our ongoing prospective study is to determine serum AMH to estimate ovarian reserve for premenopausal women treated with RAI. Over the course of one year, 33 serum samples from women with thyroid cancer and 3 serum samples from healthy women were examined. AMH levels were compared before radioiodine treatment and at regular intervals after treatment. Mean of the AMH level was 5.4 ng/ml (n=33) prior to RAI. The average level of AMH decreased to 1.8 ng/ml in 4-6 months after treatment. In 22.2 % of patients AMH dropped to 0 ng/ml from a non-zero value. Thereafter, we observed an increase in AMH, the average value was 2.7 ng/ml in 8-12 months. We demonstrated a significant decrease in AMH shortly after radioiodine treatment and a subsequent trend of increase at one year after treatment. Consequently, predicting the adverse effects of radioiodine by assessing a serum biomarker could help to select an appropriate treatment strategy for young women planning pregnancy.

Barriers and Facilitators for Help-Seeking Behaviors in British South Asian Women Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence: A Qualitative Study

The aim of this study is to identify the barriers and facilitators for help-seeking behaviors among British South Asian (BSA) women. A cross-sectional qualitative method was applied, among 15 BSA women who have experienced domestic violence (DV). Five overarching themes emerged: survivors’ lack of recognition and realization of abuse, fear of the negative effects of abuse, informal help-seeking support and barriers, formal help-seeking support and barriers, and advice from survivors for developing help-seeking opportunities. These barriers and facilitators were linked to intersectional socialization, which have influenced the help-seeking behaviors of BSA women. This study can be helpful for researchers, policymakers, and service providers in understanding the complications in terms of help-seeking behaviors and facilitators for BSA women who experience DV and to develop culturally appropriate interventions to inspire effective help-seeking strategies for South Asian women who experience DV.

The Effect of Digital Problem Solving Therapy on Quality of Life in Pregnant Women Who Are Victims of Domestic Violence

Aim: This study aims to determine the effect of digital problem-solving therapy (DPST) on the quality of life (QOL) of pregnant women who are victims of domestic violence. Methods: The research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with two groups: an intervention group receiving digital problem-solving therapy and a control group receiving standard care. The study took place over three months at the National Commission on Violence Against Women service centers and referral hospitals in Bekasi City, West Java. The intervention involved four sessions per month focusing on psychological well-being and QOL. A total of 100 pregnant women participated, meeting the criteria of being over three months pregnant, having experienced domestic violence, owning a smartphone, and living with their husbands. Results: The results showed a statistically significant increase in QOL scores within the intervention group after the therapy, with a t-score of 13.76 and a p-value of 0.001. Additionally, the intervention group exhibited a larger improvement in QOL at post-test compared to the control group (ß = 8.20, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Digital problem-solving therapy significantly improves the quality of life of pregnant women experiencing domestic violence. Future studies should explore the effectiveness of this intervention among more diverse research groups, focusing on participants with varied mental health and psychological characteristics.

Coping Mechanisms among Women Who Experience Dysmenorrhea in Baleasri Village, Magetan, Indonesia

Background: Dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain) is often experienced by women of childbearing age. The main complaint is abdominal pain that spreads from the lower back to the thighs. The pain complaint results in disruption of daily activities. The purpose of the study was to identify the description of type of coping, and coping mechanisms in women who experience dysmenorrhea. Methods: The type of research used was descriptive exploratory with a population of 252 women of childbearing age who experienced dysmenorrhea. The sample size of this study was 152 women (Krejci & Morgan table). The independent variable is dysmenorrhea, and the dependent variable is the type and coping mechanisms. The instrument for identifying the type, and coping mechanisms used a questionnaire. Data on women of childbearing age who experienced dysmenorrhea were obtained from secondary data from the Village Midwife's records. Data collection techniques used questionnaires and secondary data observations. Data analysis was carried out descriptively, in the form of frequency distribution percentages and prevalence ratios. Results: The results showed that women who experienced dysmenorrhea tended to use adaptive coping. The most frequently used coping mechanism was problem-focused coping. Women who work and are active in sports are risk factors that can reduce dysmenorrhea. Adolescent age, secondary education, age of menarche less than 12 years, and menstrual periods more than 7 days are triggers for dysmenorrhea. Conclusion: regular exercise and work are positive coping mechanisms that can reduce dysmenorrhea.

Special Needs in Substance Use Treatment for Women Who Use Drugs: Social and Mental Health Factors

Women who receive substance use treatment have a particular classification of sensitivity to European drugs and drug use (according to the EMCDDA). The average level of women’s treatment is lower than men’s across Europe, while women’s abandonment is higher than men’s. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors associated with problems for women who use drugs, analyzing several psychological and social factors (gender, substance use, mental health, source of economic support, legal status, and abuse). Methodology: This was a quantitative study. Data on 2179 people receiving rehabilitation treatment were obtained from the EuropASI survey. The dependent variables in this study were (1) a patient’s known history of addiction and mental illness; (2) primary drug use; (3) drug use in their lifetime and the past month; (4) mood in their lifetime and the past month, physical condition, and sexual abuse history; (5) mental illness in their lifetime and the past month (including suicide attempts); (6) legal status in their lifetime and the past month; (7) and source of income in the past month and (8) and the number of patients. The factor of gender was taken as a dichotomous variable (male–female). The confidence interval used was 95%. Results: In summary, we found that women had consumed more alcohol, used more drugs, and suffered more from depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than men, both during their lifetimes and in the past month. In addition, women were more likely than men to be stigmatized for prostitution because their financial support came mainly from colleagues, friends, and family, as well as from prostitution. Finally, women had experienced more violence (emotional, physical, and sexual) during their lifetimes and in the last month than men. Conclusion: There appears to be a need to develop a comprehensive treatment network for addictive behaviors from a multifactorial perspective, including harm reduction, psychosocial support, and recovery programs; furthermore, targeting specific groups with special needs, such as women, especially those with mental health problems, women with alcoholism, and abused women, it also seems important to develop adaptive recovery programs within addictive behavior treatment networks.

The Implementation of the Advocacy Intervention for Midlife and Older Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Midlife and older women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) often have less access to supports and services than younger women. There is far less focus on research and supports for midlife and older women compared to younger women experiencing IPV, and often, neither elder abuse nor IPV services meet their needs. Few interventions are available to meet the needs of midlife and older women. The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test the effectiveness of an advocacy intervention for midlife and older women who experience IPV and to learn from the experiences of those who implement and participate in the program. This trial is a 2-arm, unblinded, parallel, pragmatic randomized controlled trial with a qualitative component. Eligible participants will be women who live in the Maritime provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island), who are in midlife and older (aged approximately ≥50 years), and who are currently in a relationship with an abusive partner or have recently left an abusive partner. Facilitators will be trained to deliver the intervention. The intervention will be entirely virtual and will consist of 2 components: (1) an empowerment component, which will involve sharing resources and information with the women; and (2) a social support component, which will include providing support and encouragement to women for 12 weeks. Quantitative effectiveness data will be collected from all trial participants at baseline, 3 months after the intervention, and 9 months after the intervention about the incidence and severity of IPV, physical and mental health, and safety behaviors and strategies. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with the facilitators and intervention group participants. Control group participants will receive a static, nontailored version of the advocacy intervention for midlife and older women (AIM) intervention materials after baseline data collection. A total of 12 facilitators have been trained to deliver the AIM intervention to trial participants. Participant recruitment and data collection will be completed in January 2025. Data analysis will continue throughout the data collection period, and the results will be disseminated by December 2025. This research will result in the adaptation and testing of a program to support and empower midlife and older women in the Maritime provinces of Canada who experience IPV. International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Registry ISRCTN30646991; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN30646991. DERR1-10.2196/57886.

Psychosocial Burden of Women Who Are to Undergo Additional Diagnostic Procedures Due to Positive Screening for Cervical Cancer.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate psychosocial burden and its associated factors in women who were referred for additional diagnostic procedures following receipt of a positive cervical-cancer-screening smear result. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in a consecutive cohort of only women who received an abnormal Papanicolaou screening result and therefore presented to a gynecologist for additional diagnostic examinations (colposcopy/biopsy/endocervical curettage) at the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Clinical Center. Multivariate linear regression was used for data analysis, with Bonferroni correction applied for multiple comparisons. Results: Significant independent predictors for the occurrence of psychosocial burden-worry in women with a positive Papanicolaou screening test before diagnostic procedures were the use of oral contraceptives (β = -0.174, p < 0.001), alcohol consumption (β = 0.188, p < 0.001), anxiety (β = -0.189, p = 0.001), high burden of depressive symptoms (β = 0.191, p = 0.001) and insufficient knowledge of the meaning of the term dysplasia/precancerous (β = -0.187, p < 0.001), according to the multivariate linear regression. The significant independent predictor for the occurrence of psychosocial burden-satisfaction with information/support in women with a positive Papanicolaou screening test before diagnostic procedures was psychological distress (β = -0.210, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Providing information in order to improve understanding of the term dysplasia/precancerous, as well as identifying which women are at risk of psychosocial burden, may help protect against this potential harm among women who receive a positive cervical-cancer-screening result and may facilitate their intention to undergo further diagnostic procedures.

Clinical Characteristics and Causes of Perinatal Death Among Women Who Delivered at SekouToure Regional Referral Hospital, Mwanza Region, Northwestern Tanzania

&amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Background&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: Perinatal deaths and neonatal deaths are major public health concern worldwide. They are unexpected tragedy which brings bad experience to the pregnant mothers and the families in general. Occurrences of these deaths may be used to evaluate the quality of obstetric care given to pregnant women in the hospital. They shows good quality of obstetric care when they are low in number. Therefore, more efforts must be directed in preventing these deaths. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Methods&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: This was a one-year retrospective descriptive hospital based study conducted in one of the tertiary regional referral hospital. Women who had perinatal deaths between the studied periods and meet the inclusion criteria were included. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Results&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: There were 7336 deliveries in the study, 81.1% (n =5953) had vagina deliveries and 18.9% (n=1383) had Caesarean section. Total of 169 cases of perinatal deaths identified, making a rate of perinatal deaths of 23 cases per 1000 deliveries (2.3%). Among perinatal death 40% (n=67) were early neonatal deaths and there was an identified association between referral from lower health facilities with early neonatal deaths. &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Conclusion&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt;: The rate of perinatal deaths in this study was relatively low compared to other studies. This reflect the quality of obstetrics care pregnant women received in our facility. And most of these women with early neonatal deaths were referred to our facility from lower health facilities with complications.

The Role of Shame in Associations with PTSD and Depression Symptoms and Hazardous Drinking Among Bisexual Women Who Experienced Sexual Violence

ABSTRACT Bisexual (i.e. those with attraction to multiple genders) women experience disparities in sexual violence and mental health outcomes, including PTSD, depression, and hazardous drinking, compared to lesbian and heterosexual women. Unique stigma due to bisexual identity (antibisexual stigma), negative reactions to sexual violence (SV) disclosure (e.g. victim blaming), and prior child sexual abuse (CSA) may all contribute to shame. We tested whether shame explained the associations of antibisexual stigma, negative reactions to SV disclosure, and CSA severity with PTSD symptoms, depression, and hazardous drinking among young bisexual women. Participants who self-identified as bisexual women, between the ages of 18–35, residing in the US were recruited via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and completed online questionnaires. Women who reported SV since age 18 that they disclosed to someone were included in the current study, yielding a sample of 156 bisexual women (Mage = 25.7; 98.1% cisgender, 86.5% White). Path analysis with bias-corrected bootstrapping was conducted. There were significant direct effects of negative reactions on hazardous drinking and CSA on PTSD, and direct effects of shame on PTSD and depression symptoms. Shame explained the associations of antibisexual stigma, negative reactions, and CSA with PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, and hazardous drinking. Shame may explain why stigmatizing experiences related to bisexual identity, sexual violence, and CSA history relate to distress among bisexual women. Shame is an important treatment target among bisexual survivors of SV.

Emotion Regulation Within Context: Understanding Buffering Effects on Chronic Pain and PTSD Among Black Women Who've Experienced Sexual Assault and Racism.

Previous research has found that both racism and sexual assault are related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and chronic pain. Black women have unique relationships to these stressors situated within contexts of oppression, and little is known about factors that may exacerbate these associations among Black women. Among Black women experiencing both racism and sexual assault (n = 148), emotion clarity moderated the relation between PTSD and chronic pain, β = .0126, SE = 0.0059, p < .05. Our findings support the importance of considering the place that psychological constructs like emotion regulation and traumatic stressors hold in contexts of oppression.

Effects of Intimate Partner Violence-Related Strangulation on Women Who Report a Disability and Received Forensic Nursing Services.

Data on effects of strangulation in victims with a disability are lacking despite this population experiencing intimate partner violence at higher rates than women without a disability. A retrospective review was conducted on medical records of patients seeking care at a community-based, forensic nurse examiner program following an intimate partner violence-related strangulation event. The presence of disability was not associated with differences in reporting other types of victimization, additional abusive events, perpetrator characteristics, strangulation actions, or injury findings. Patients with a disability were more likely to report experiencing anoxic, hypoxic, and other physical symptoms following strangulation compared to patients without a disability.

Urogynecologic Care for Women Who Are Incarcerated

In the United States, approximately 180,700 women are incarcerated across jails and prisons, comprising a demographic with an aging population and a higher growth rate compared to men. Despite this demographic trend, research into urogynecologic care for women who are incarcerated is notably lacking, with few studies addressing pelvic floor disorders such as incontinence, and even fewer focusing on access to treatment options like vaginal pessaries or surgical interventions. Women who are incarcerated may face unique challenges in obtaining urogynecologic care, including limited access to medical evaluations, invasive search procedures affecting intravaginal device use, and inadequate hygiene resources, all of which hinder effective management strategies. Barriers to nonsurgical treatments like pelvic floor physical therapy are exacerbated by transportation logistics, while access to surgical interventions is impeded by complex approval processes within correctional facilities. In addition, managing incontinence with limited access to hygiene products and bathroom facilities further compromises the health and dignity of incarcerated women. Urgent attention and advocacy are needed to address disparities in research and clinical care for incarcerated populations. As a first step, we urge clinicians to acquaint themselves with the correctional facilities in their areas and the current health care pathways for women incarcerated in these facilities. It is our collective responsibility to ensure equitable and compassionate care for this vulnerable population.

Developmental Pathways and Adjustment of Adult Women Who Experienced Early Pubertal Development: A Mixed-Method Approach

Early maturation among girls is a major stressful event that might affect their development and wellbeing during the adolescent years. However, the research literature is inconsistent as to whether the impact of early maturation among girls continues into their adult life. Taking a narrative approach, 45 adult women were interviewed and asked to describe their developmental life history following early maturation. Further, they reported on their wellbeing and body image. Analysis of the interviews yielded three developmental pathways: women for whom early maturation still impacts their daily life; women who were able to cope with the premature puberty and function well, but are still bothered by issues of body image; and women for whom early maturation served as an incentive for personal growth, who reported a high level of wellbeing, and comfort with their body. Findings underscore the importance of considering individual differences and different pathways of development among individuals.

Improvements in Safety Outcomes Following Brief Healthcare-Based Intimate Partner Violence Interventions among Women Who Screen Positive for Intimate Partner Violence-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common consequence of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV-related TBI contributes to adverse health outcomes among women, but it is unknown whether a history of IPV-related TBI negatively impacts safety outcomes following healthcare-based interventions for IPV. Methods: Using data from a larger randomized clinical trial, we explored the impact of IPV-related TBI status on safety-related outcomes in two healthcare-based IPV interventions. At baseline, 35% (n = 21) of the sample screened positive for IPV-related TBI history. We used repeated measures ANOVAs to examine differences in safety outcomes at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up based on treatment condition and IPV-related TBI status. Results: Significant interaction effects were found for safety outcomes, such that women with IPV-related TBI history experienced larger reductions in the frequency of physical IPV and similar reductions in sexual IPV across both treatment conditions compared to women without IPV-TBI (F(2, 102) = 10.88, p < 0.001; F(2, 98) = 3.93, p = 0.036). Conclusions: Findings suggest that brief healthcare-based IPV interventions may result in improvements in safety outcomes for women with a history of IPV-TBI. This highlights the continued need for implementation of promising IPV-focused interventions to promote safety and protect women from experiencing further IPV.

Claiming Space for Oneself: Feminist Reading of Smriti Ravindra's The Woman Who Climbed Trees

The Woman Who Climbed Trees (2023) by Smriti Ravindra is a soul-stirring novel that showcases the miserable plight of women in a society governed by males. Marriage, gender discrimination, power relations between male and female, and toils of women in the family lead to their confinement within the frameworks staked out for them by men. Women suffer, are subjugated and subordinated, and are yet indispensible for running the family, where they are pulled by the traditional roles trusted upon her. But women's access to education, employment, and socio political awareness has helped them achieve personhood. They no longer want to be connected to and defined by the societal and cultural norms of the patriarchal structure. The objective of this paper, therefore, is to examine and explore the theme of how women in the novel make resistance, claim space for themselves, and search for their identity. Through the lives of three women across different generations, Kaveri, Meena, and Priti, the novelist beautifully captures the complexities of love, acceptance, estrangement, and self-discovery, highlighting the evolution of self-assertion. The novel serves as a poignant exploration of human experience, anchored by protagonists, whose journeys serve as a microcosm of broader societal dynamics. Applying feminism as a research framework, this study delves into the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and her challenges to patriarchal constraints. The analysis elucidates how the women in the novel navigate and resist a male-dominated social labyrinth.

The Effects of Sexual Education on Function and Quality of Life of Women Who Underwent Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the effect of sexual education on sexual function and quality of activity after total hip arthroplasty (THA). MethodsThere were 31 patients who underwent THA who were randomly assigned to the education (n = 15) and the control (n = 16) groups in this randomized controlled trial. A sexual education session and an educational handout were provided to the study group after THA prior to discharge. Patients were evaluated 4 times throughout the study: preoperatively, at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. The data were collected by using the sociodemographic and medical data form, the Index of Female Sexual Function, the Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQoL-F) Questionnaire, the visual analog scale (VAS) of the Fear of Sexual Activity, and the VAS of Satisfaction with Sexual Activity scales. ResultsThe mean sexual activity satisfaction score of the education group was higher in the second (95% confidence interval [Cl] [0.67 to 3.08]) and third follow-up (95% Cl [0.19 to 3.03]) (P < 0.05). Over time, the mean satisfaction scores of both groups increased (P < 0.05). The mean VAS fear of sexual activity scores at the first (95% CI [−2.81 to −0.48]), second (95% CI [−4.71 to −2.80]), and third (95% CI [−3.80 to −1.55]) follow-ups of the education group were significantly lower. Over time, the mean fear scores of both groups decreased (P < 0.05). The education group had higher mean SQoL-F scores at the first (95% CI [4.90 to 33.11], second (95% CI [7.62 to 34.31]), and third (95% CI [5.23 to 35.79]) follow-ups (P < 0.05). For the mean SQoL-F score, the difference between groups (F = 6.64), the change over time in both groups (F = 29.16), and the change over time between groups (F = 13.74) were statistically significant (P < 0.05). For the mean Index of Female Sexual Function score, it was found that the change over time was significantly different for both groups (F = 69.64, P < 0.05). ConclusionsSexual education after THA may improve satisfaction with sexual activity and quality of life.

Assessment of Obstetric and Kidney Outcomes in Women Who Underwent Hemodialysis during Pregnancy in Brazil

Assessment of Obstetric and Kidney Outcomes in Women Who Underwent Hemodialysis during Pregnancy in Brazil

Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum Experiences of Women Who Were Diagnosed with COVID-19 During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study in Turkey

This study utilized a qualitative study design to determine the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences of women who were diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy in Turkey. Interviews were conducted with 14 women using the semi-structured interview technique to evaluate their “pregnancy,”“birth,” and “postpartum” experiences. Data were analyzed using qualitative thematic and content analysis methods. Content analysis of the data revealed four main themes. The themes were as follows: Support for a positive pregnancy experience, uncertainty and fear of the COVID-19 diagnosis, effects of the COVID-19 diagnosis on the birth experience, and effects of the COVID-19 diagnosis on postpartum experiences. The results of this study showed that antenatal care expectations of women during pregnancy could not be met, they could not access reliable information, they experienced disruptions in their follow-ups, they were anxious about their own health and the health of their babies, and they had decreased social interaction.

Infective Endocarditis Among Women Who Inject Drugs

In the US and Canada, women comprise approximately one-third of people who inject drugs (PWID); however, clinical characteristics and outcomes of injection drug use complications in women are poorly described. To identify clinical characteristics and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) among women who inject drugs (WWID). This is a retrospective cohort study of PWID with definite IE (per 2023 Duke-International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases criteria) admitted from April 5, 2007, to March 15, 2018, at 5 tertiary-care hospitals in London, Ontario, and Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Data were analyzed from June 1, 2023, to August 2, 2024. Descriptive analyses were conducted for baseline characteristics at index hospitalization and stratified by sex. The primary outcome was the difference in 5-year survival between female and male PWID with IE. The secondary outcome was 1-year survival. Multivariable time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were conducted for variables of clinical importance to evaluate 5-year mortality. Of 430 PWID with IE, 220 (51.2%) were women; of 332 non-PWID with IE, 101 (30.4%) were women. WWID with IE were younger than men (median [IQR] age, 31.5 [27.0-38.5] vs 38.5 [31.0-49.0] years), and 11 of 220 (5.0%) were pregnant at index hospitalization, although only 12 of 220 (5.5%) had contraceptive use documented. Women had a larger proportion of right-sided IE than men (158 of 220 women [71.8%] vs 113 of 210 men [53.8%]). WWID living in urban areas had higher mortality than WWID in rural areas (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.70; 95% CI, 1.15-6.34; P = .02). Overall mortality was lower among PWID referred for substance use disorder counseling in centers with inpatient services compared with centers with only outpatient referrals (aHR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.17-0.51; P < .001). Overall mortality was lower with right-sided heart disease for both women (aHR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.27-0.71; P < .001) and men (aHR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.10-0.50; P < .001) and was higher with congestive heart failure for both women (aHR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.29-4.18; P = .005) and men (aHR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.07-2.79; P = .02). In this cohort of PWID with IE, women were overrepresented. Reasons for women's disproportionately high IE incidence need further study. Inpatient substance use disorder services, contraception counseling, and enhanced social support for WWID living in urban areas need to be prioritized.

구술서사 &lt;시집온 맹인&gt;에 나타난 ‘장애’의 의미 -‘장애’ 가진 몸, 그 존재다움의 괴리-

This paper discusses representation and meaning of “disability” of “women” in oral narratives in two respects: narrative and performance. Specifically, it examines the effects and limitations of the representation of “disability” in the oral performance of The Blind Woman Who Married. Furthermore, the meaning of the oral tradition of The Blind Woman Who Married is explored in the here and now. As a result, the “disability” in the oral narrative The Blind Woman Who Married is reproduced as knowing what a ordinary people cannot see or having excellent economic ability. It also reproduces the model of a good wife. However, through the process of performance, the community imposed a taboo or projected a heroic stance on “a certain body” represented by oral narratives. In this way, the community seems to have strengthened the solidarity of its members and solidified the ideology of “normality.” However, the existing body―the “certain body” mentioned through the performance of The Blind Woman Who Married―can experience ongoing conflict between “becoming” and “alienation.” Therefore, this paper attempts to find a clue to defend the intersecting body of “disability” and “woman” through the oral narrative The Blind Woman Who Married.