giving away my ideas for my next research project

Hello World

I wrote a large chunk on the dissertation today! Yea, now I write more as I transcend from a caffeine high to drinking beer.  But I need a break.

My dissertation is on reproductive rights and globalization, in which I study NGOs at through observations at the United Nations, conduct interviews with them, and perform content analysis of their websites. I am interested in how NGOs define reproductive rights and hence if they are inclusive of diverse women and reproductive practices in doing this. Although international law defines reproductive rights as a human right, the language is ambiguous and hence open for interpetation. That’s my “elevator” version…

But in my next study, I still want to look at reproduction, but want to focus on how cultural schemas regarding gender and intersectionality affect women’s views and experiences of pregnancy, and particurlarly mental health during pregnancy. I have a more in-depth document on this, but my point in blogging about this is the reasons I am interested in this topic.

So, medical soc literature says that those with higher social status have better health in general including mental health because they have access to insurance, better living standards, and social networks. However, my critique (or at least what I wonder) is how does gender play into this? What happens when we look at this through a gender lens? And what better case than during pregnancy when the gendered expectations role high (or even “planning a pregnancy).

So, if you have read my blog before or know me, I have one daughter who is two and one-half now. Being an only child myself, I have no desire to let her be an only child (yes, you get extra attention and maybe more financial security and material things, but it can be lonely ride, especially in my family where no one likes to talk to each other).  But, I worry about “when” to have another one in lieu of my “career”, my partners, and related things such as health insurance, money, and the such. Sorry, I didn’t mention, but you might assume, yes we are “middle class” for the most part (I have always been, but the partner grew up with much less).

So, I think about my one year visiting appointment. I wonder what I will do next year. I think next summer would be an ideal time to aim for as my insurance and pay checks last through the summer. If I don’t end up in academia, I take a few months off before another job. If I end up in academia, I have the summer. Right.. you get the point.

But what do diverse women think about as they get pregnant or plan pregnancies?  A bad example, but if I were to get pregnant now, I would freak out in relation to having a one year visiting appointment and not knowing how to handle giving birth, teaching, and the what not during the midst of the academic year.  And when I am not sure about our finances or health insurance, I am hesitant about adding a new addition to the family.  We make too much money to receive most types of social assistance, but at the same time are lacking job security in ensuring security.  What do other women do who get pregnant? What is an ideal time for diverse women?

I will actually give you some ideas on the mental health aspect so you don’t think that I’m just a  privileged academic  with secure middle class standing questioning her reproductive timing.   How do gender expectations differ for pregnancy across diverse lines? How do diverse women come to define mental health during pregnancy and how this affect if they experience depression and the so on and seek help? I think it is opposite of what the med soc literature says. Upon reading and discussing works on diverse women and reproduction, I think cultural schemes of gender are tied to intersectional identity and that this has an impact on pregnancy experiences. I now realize some of my ideas about this are related to the crim lit. But, we are expected to act in certain gendered ways, but we know gender is not a universal concept. Thus, do “women on the top” think they have more to loose if they admit that they are feeling depressed during pregnancy?

Okay that’s it for now. Must get back to the dissertation writing. I realize this is rambling, but hey, it’s my blog, right?