How can we build a “women's” philosophy?

Hysterectomy: What Do Women Need and Want to Know?

An exploratory study of women's experiences and key stakeholders views of moxibustion for cephalic version in breech presentation

The present work was designed to explore women's experiences of going through the menopause while working, using Playmobil as a tool for eliciting discussion. A growing body of evidence shows the value of using playful approaches in research; however, very little research has explored the use of Playmobil as a research method. Research was carried out with 12 co-researchers (aged 31-60) working at a UK university, who were perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Women attended a workshop and were encouraged to discuss and reflect on their experience of menopause in the workplace using playmobil to facilitate group discussion. The session was audio-recorded. Three themes were developed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis regarding menopause experiences in the workplace: (1) menopause symptoms fundamentally changing experiences of work, (2) symptoms leading to doubts about the ability to work effectively, and (3) ideas for moving forward and improving experiences of menopause in the workplace. Playmobil was a useful method for stimulating discussion. Physical and psychological symptoms of the menopause can have a substantial impact on a person's working life. Workplace settings need to ensure sufficient support is available for employees who are experiencing menopause.

In recent years, more and more philosophical work has come to be done under the rubric of ‘feminist philosophy.’ In particular, more and more work in philosophical ethics has come to be identified by both those who produce it and those who read it as within the domain of ‘feminist ethics.’ As a philosophical ethicist and a feminist, the question naturally arises as to whether I do feminist ethics. The question seems particularly natural in my case, because a great deal of my research has focussed on the nature of intimate relationships, the types of reasons to which such relationships give rise, and how moral theory ought to accommodate such relationships and their attendant reasons. Intimacy, after all, has been one of the areas to which feminist ethicists have paid a great deal of attention in their attempts to carve out a peculiarly’ feminist’ ethics, arguing that traditional or canonical theories need, at the very least, a great deal of revision if they are to respond appropriately to the ‘data’ acquired as the result of the inclusion and responsiveness to the experience of women.

Gestational breast cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy or within the first postpartum year. There is a lack of studies on the experiences of ethnically diverse Asian women with gestational breast cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of Asian women with gestational breast cancer so necessary support can be rendered. This qualitative descriptive study used purposive sampling to recruit 7 women with gestational breast cancer who were following up at the breast center of a tertiary women's hospital in Singapore. Semistructured, individual, face-to-face, audio-recorded interviews were used to explore the in-depth experiences of these women. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Three main themes emerged from the thematic analysis: (1) being a sick woman, (2) juggling between being a mother and a patient, and (3) seeking normalcy. Women had to contend with disruptive changes from gestational breast cancer, both emotionally and physically. They were constantly distressed by their altered body images, and family support was vital to help these women cope with their treatments. Alternative support sources included healthcare professionals and the Internet. Gestational breast cancer experiences varied based on the women's encounter perceptions and existing support. Their experiences may be improved through further support to mediate their coping efforts. Future quantitative and qualitative research should explore and evaluate the various aspects of the long-term disease and psychosocial effects of gestational breast cancer. Hospitals should include support strategies in antenatal classes and postnatal workshops to lessen disruptions of the motherhood experiences.

This study explores the intersection of gender dynamics and access to rehabilitation services for women with amputation in Cambodia. Taking place in a semi-urban setting in Cambodia, the study employs a Community-Based Participatory Research approach, fostering collaboration with local communities and stakeholders. The study focuses on women with amputations, to examine barriers and challenges to rehabilitation services. By utilizing semi-structured interviews with 12 women and reflexive thematic analysis, this research aims to understand the perspectives of women with amputation about access, acceptability and perceptions of rehabilitation. Six interlinked themes were identified that elucidated the lived experiences of Cambodian women with amputations: Family Dimensions, Financial Impact, the Impact on the Role of Women, Social Isolation and Exclusion, the Care Journey, and the Psychological Distress. Greater awareness of rehabilitation is recommended among the general public, health professionals and policy makers to reduce stigma, improve referral channels and develop gender-specific approaches in service-provision, such as recommendations for women only service initiatives and implementation of staff training to improve awareness and understandings of needs and experiences of women with disabilities. Through a comprehensive exploration, the study contributes to improved understandings about gender-sensitive and equal healthcare solutions, aligning with SDGs, and addressing post-conflict disparities.

Hold my Hand

Women's studies and the women's movement in South Africa: Defining a relationship

ABSTRACTThis article discusses the experiences of women and children who become homeless as a result of domestic violence and assesses the extent to which their need for housing, both temporary and permanent, is being met within Wales. It explores women's experiences of living in and moving on from refuges. Refuge provision in Wales is not sufficient to meet the demand for refuge spaces. However, for those women and children who are accommodated in refuges, the experience is significant in supporting them through a highly stressful period of their lives. This is related to the communal nature of refuge living and the high levels of support from refuge workers and from other women. The availability of suitable and affordable move-on accommodation for women and children leaving refuges is also insufficient to meet need. This results in long stays in refuges for women and children who have been accepted as officially homeless and are waiting to be rehoused by local authorities and may lead to their returning to violent domestic situations. It also exacerbates the shortage of refuge provision for women and children in need of temporary, crisis accommodation. Women and children who have survived domestic violence need access to housing which is safe and affordable where support is available if wished for. These needs are not being met.

Black women in Georgia are more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications during the postpartum period than other their non-Black counterparts. Developing effective solutions to address this public health crisis requires strengthened partnerships between researchers and community-based organizations, with the voices of Black women being at the center of the research and innovation. This study examined perspectives of community-advisory board members on a community-based participatory research approach that addresses adverse postpartum health outcomes for Black women living in rural Georgia. This qualitative descriptive study employed semistructured qualitative interviews with members on the community-advisory board and research team (N=16) consisting of all Black women. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data deductively, with codes being categorized into overarching themes. Themes that were elicited from interviews included community; culture; acceptability of the Positive Outcomes, Research Recommendations, Community Collaborations, and Honorable delivery of healthcare research approach; and Black maternal health disparities. Participants voiced the importance of the inclusion of Black cultural aspects within maternal health interventions and the importance of providing Black women with a platform to share their perspectives and experiences. Participants provided insight on promoting Black maternal health equity and reducing power dynamics within research. Centering culture and community and using Black women's experiences to guide the development of research interventions will be critical in developing relevant solutions to address the Black maternal health crisis. Research should be designed with the input of target communities while supporting synergistic relationships between communities and researchers.

Over the last decade, induction of labor (IOL) in postterm pregnancies has increased. Studies have shown the medical advantages of postterm IOL, but less is known about the perspectives of the pregnant women. This review aimed to summarize the current qualitative evidence on women's experience of postterm IOL. A systematic literature search was performed in three databases. A total of 3193 publications were identified, but only eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis guided the data extraction and synthesis. The Confidence in the Evidence for Reviews of Qualitative research (CERQual) approach was used to assess confidence in the findings. Three major findings were identified. First, for some women, IOL required a shift in expectations because the hope of spontaneous labor had to be given up. Second, the IOL decision was considered a recommendation from health care professionals and was experienced as a nondecision. Finally, the induction process was experienced as a sequential set of steps where the women were expected to fit into the existing hospital organization. The CERQual assessment suggested moderate confidence in all findings. The negative experiences identified in this review can be greatly reduced by a communicative and patient-centered approach. To support informed choice and shared decision making, women need high-quality, unbiased information about IOL, alternative options, and potential outcomes, in addition to time for reflection on their personal values and preferences. Women may need a professionally initiated and supported opportunity to re-evaluate their hopes and expectations before IOL.

As the fourth industrial revolution guides humanity toward the next stage of civilization, there have been various changes across multiple domains of life. The youngest generations now face a new era in which unexpected problems continuously arise and evolve. Consequently, innovation is needed, especially in psychology and technology. This innovation is important because of the increasing number of issues that plague human life, especially psychological problems, trauma, and phobias. However, modern psychology has not kept pace with these developments. Based on this, the researchers developed a tool called IP-Light Technologies. This tool was developed using a research and development approach. Product testing in the form of prototypes is limited and widely carried out in West Nusa Tenggara, West Sumatra, DKI Jakarta, and Bali. As a result of testing, the final prototype was widely produced. The perceptual light prototype comprises a set of lamps and a multiplicity of LED lights extending in horizontal wings spaced concerning the main handle; an elongated handle extending from the main handle in the opposite direction, vertically to horizontally; a linear array of illuminated displays located on the display surface of the handle; and numerous control switches mounted on the casing. The device further comprises a power supply, and control circuit wherein the LEDs on both wings are arranged in an array configured so that the combination of each bulb may project high-intensity light. A lamp clip with a spring design can be clipped on the edge of a table or any other surface.

Coloniality refers to the lasting legacy of colonisation embedded in the current knowledge systems; shaping cultural, political, social, and economic aspects. In that sense, decolonising is a continuous process that unsettles and disrupts that colonial matrix. It mustn't be reduced to a purely intellectual exercise but should be moved to the physical, tangible realms. Syria's diversity and rich history present a politically sensitive environment that becomes complicated by a prolonged conflict and displacement. The overarching aim of this portfolio is to contribute alternative narratives and sources of knowledge that challenge the dominant research discourses about Syria using a reflexive and decolonial lens and following a scholaractivism path. The research portfolio draws on three descriptive qualitative and one analytical quantitative studies conducted in the Syrian context. The studies focused on exploring and documenting the lived experiences of Syrian women and internally displaced persons (IDPs), employing interpretive phenomenological and thematic analysis. The portfolio explores themes such as gendered vulnerability, displacement, mortality under-ascertainment, vaccine hesitancy, and community responses to COVID-19, all situated within their socio-political context. The analytical commentary further reflects on scholar-activism as a crucial approach that bridges academic research with the needs of the communities it engages, rather than serving institutions alone. Decolonising humanitarian research requires context-specific, identity-aware, and positionality-informed approaches. While acknowledging these efforts' partial but promising nature, the portfolio advocates for a more trauma-informed and justiceoriented approach to humanitarian research that challenges current colonial academic and humanitarian structures and centres community-efined priorities

The consequences of climate change are far-reaching, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where liveli-hoods largely rely on rain-fed agriculture. This situation presents significant threats to the region's de-velopment and intensifies existing gender inequalities. The varying impacts of climate change on women and men stem from their distinct roles, societal expectations, and inherent differences, with women being disproportionately affected. This study delves into crucial considerations for crafting gender-sensitive climate action in sub-Saharan Africa. Through a desktop research approach, we argue that gender con-siderations are vital in climate action, as men and women contribute differently and are affected in diverse ways. Gender-sensitive climate responses include gender analysis, inclusive decision-making, equitable resource access, capacity building, and gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation. It is essential to de-sign and implement gender-responsive climate actions to ensure that climate solutions are effective, sus-tainable, and equitable. These actions consider the varied needs, perspectives, and experiences of women and men in the context of climate change. The involvement of both men and women in climate actions is crucial. Potential funding mechanisms for gendered climate change actions encompass local resource mobilization, the private sector, women's groups, governments, international organizations, and gender budgeting. Policymakers, climate change scientists, practitioners, and lawmakers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, must acknowledge the importance of implementing gender-responsive climate change actions and strategies.

Purpose Atta-satta is a system in which two families exchange brides: the first family's bride marries a groom from the second family, and the second family's bride marries a groom from the first family. Though this practice is socioculturally rooted and has a significant impact on women's lives, evidence on the experiences of women in Atta-satta marriages is limited. This qualitative study aims to explore the tradition of Atta-satta marriage in rural Rajasthan, India, by examining the experiences of women who live in such marriages. Attempts are made to uncover the nuances of Atta-satta, a traditional practice of marriage, and its repercussions on women. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive qualitative research approach guided this study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 17 married women from five villages in rural Rajasthan, India. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings The findings reveal that the lowered demand for the dowry price, marital stability and the promotion of community coherence are the primary reasons for the prevalence of such marriages. Lack of autonomy, coerced and early marriages, and violence mark women's experiences in Atta-satta. Originality/value This study contributes to strengthening the understanding of women's lives in Atta-satta marriage and documents how these experiences are influenced by sociocultural practices prevalent in the region. The study's results underscore the need for concrete efforts to address these challenges, which may involve promoting women's education, raising awareness about the importance of empowering women to make their own life choices and challenging harmful gender norms and practices that limit women's potential and autonomy.