Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: According to the United States Office of Minority Health, Black women are the most overweight demographic in the country (Health, 2009).The purpose of this study is to better understand the narratives of Black American women's weight loss experiences as told through online narrative creation (blogging).Through the lens of participant observation, the researcher performs a thematic, narrative analysis on the weight loss stories of five (5) Black American women over a six month time period (March -August 2011).Research questions revolve around cultural and gender-related challenges to weight loss, cultural themes within the narratives, and the motivations and triumphs in overcoming these challenges.Key findings of culturally related challenges to weight loss were (a) negative, collective social attitudes toward health, (b) cultural expectations of Black women's physical appearance, (c) poor generational health habits, and (d) a lack of resources.Black women's narratives reveal cultural themes such as (a) the use of Black lexical trends, (b) references to Black pop culture, and (c) narrative spotlights on Black celebrities' health in the media.Black women's stories disclose themes of gender-related challenges to weight loss.These include (a) gender relations with the opposite sex, (b) gendered expectations of women, and (d) challenges of womanhood.Women in the study
Author: Christina LaReen Bullock
Language: English
Topic: Gender, Feminism, and Media
Subfield: Gender Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W381931231