Description of Reseach. Research Methods.
Chantel Smith
Soc 310
Sec 5
Prof. Ybarra
23 February 2010
Attitudes Toward Menstruation and Knowledge of Feminine Products
1) A general statement of your research topic.
I am interested in women’s attitudes towards their bodies within a capitalistic society. More specifically, I am curious about how the knowledge of certain feminine “hygiene” products relates to attitudes towards menstruation.
2) A few sentences about why you think this topic matters to a general audience.
In a capitalistic society where we are often defined by the products we use, and a society where the biological process of menstruation (that roughly 50% of the population experiences at some point in their lives) is socially constructed as something dirty, shameful, and that ought to be kept hidden … I believe that the interplay between these two aspects of social life ought to be examined. A general audience ought to find this topic important for many reasons. If a broader range of knowledge concerning feminine products is linked to a more positive outlook on menstruation, this might affect how health classes are taught to young girls.
3) A clear statement of your research question.
My idea is that there is a correlation between which products women have knowledge of and their attitudes towards their periods. I am focusing on “knowledge of products” instead of “use” because I understand that there are a vast and diverse number of reasons women may be educated about alternative feminine products and still chose to use mainstream ones. My research question is: Are women who have more knowledge about alternative feminine products more likely to have a positive attitude toward menstruation?
4) Conceptualize.
Important concepts to my study are: positive/negative attitudes toward menstruation, menstruating women, mainstream feminine hygiene products (MFP), and alternative feminine hygiene products (AFP).
• Negative Attitudes: reported feelings of distress concerning the process of menstruation.
• Positive Attitudes: reported feelings of ease or lack of anxiety.
I am specifically looking for attitudinal definitions that do not include attitudes toward physical pain; I want to focus on the social construction if “good” and “bad” attitudes concerning menstruation, not reactions prompted by the physical pain.
• Menstruating women: For the purposes of my study, “menstruating women” will be currently menstruating women. This leaves out transgendered women, menopausal women, and women who do not menstruate for certain medical reasons (some intersexed women, or because of thyroid issues, polycystic ovarian syndrome, anorexia, etc.). Although these women may have important input about the social construction of menstruation, the scope of this study must be limited because non-menstruating women do not have the same incentives to seek knowledge of available feminine products.
• Mainstream Feminine Products (MFP): These products include: tampons, pads, and panty liners. These are products that the general population would identify as the typical products women use during their period. They receive popular advertizing, mostly in women’s magazines or television advertisements. They are the well known brands (Tampax, o.b., Always, Playtex, Kotex, Stayfree, Carefree, etc.) as well as their store-brand “knock-offs”. In general their advertizing espouses notions that women ought to be “protected” from their periods and that the company’s products will do just that. Finally, these products are usually bleached to whiteness and disposable.
• Alternative Feminine Products (AFP): These products include: organic/all-cotton tampons, sea sponge tampons, reusable cloth pads, and menstrual cups. These products are not as ubiquitous as the mainstream products. They are often advertised (if at all) through body-positive or eco-friendly women’s magazines or by word of mouth.
5) Operationalize. Proposals for how you will measure these key concepts (variables).
I will use a cross-sectional study to survey menstruating women. Survey takers will be asked to check if/when was the last time they have had a period, with ranges supplied (within the last month, the last year, never). I will assess knowledge of FP by asking a series of questions such as “Which of the products below have you heard of?”, “Which of the following products have you personally used before?”, “Which of the following products could you explain to another woman how to use?”, etc. The responses to these questions I will be able to categorize as MFP or AFP. To measure positive/negative attitudes I will ask a series of questions with the responses “From 1 to 5, 1 being negative, 5 being positive, how do you feel about…?” or ask questions similar to “From 1 (anxious) to 5 (at ease) how nervous are you that you will leak onto your clothing while in public?”, etc.
6) A clear statement for the relevant units of analysis in your study.
My unit of analysis will be menstruating women.
Soc 310
Sec 5
Prof. Ybarra
23 February 2010
Attitudes Toward Menstruation and Knowledge of Feminine Products
1) A general statement of your research topic.
I am interested in women’s attitudes towards their bodies within a capitalistic society. More specifically, I am curious about how the knowledge of certain feminine “hygiene” products relates to attitudes towards menstruation.
2) A few sentences about why you think this topic matters to a general audience.
In a capitalistic society where we are often defined by the products we use, and a society where the biological process of menstruation (that roughly 50% of the population experiences at some point in their lives) is socially constructed as something dirty, shameful, and that ought to be kept hidden … I believe that the interplay between these two aspects of social life ought to be examined. A general audience ought to find this topic important for many reasons. If a broader range of knowledge concerning feminine products is linked to a more positive outlook on menstruation, this might affect how health classes are taught to young girls.
3) A clear statement of your research question.
My idea is that there is a correlation between which products women have knowledge of and their attitudes towards their periods. I am focusing on “knowledge of products” instead of “use” because I understand that there are a vast and diverse number of reasons women may be educated about alternative feminine products and still chose to use mainstream ones. My research question is: Are women who have more knowledge about alternative feminine products more likely to have a positive attitude toward menstruation?
4) Conceptualize.
Important concepts to my study are: positive/negative attitudes toward menstruation, menstruating women, mainstream feminine hygiene products (MFP), and alternative feminine hygiene products (AFP).
• Negative Attitudes: reported feelings of distress concerning the process of menstruation.
• Positive Attitudes: reported feelings of ease or lack of anxiety.
I am specifically looking for attitudinal definitions that do not include attitudes toward physical pain; I want to focus on the social construction if “good” and “bad” attitudes concerning menstruation, not reactions prompted by the physical pain.
• Menstruating women: For the purposes of my study, “menstruating women” will be currently menstruating women. This leaves out transgendered women, menopausal women, and women who do not menstruate for certain medical reasons (some intersexed women, or because of thyroid issues, polycystic ovarian syndrome, anorexia, etc.). Although these women may have important input about the social construction of menstruation, the scope of this study must be limited because non-menstruating women do not have the same incentives to seek knowledge of available feminine products.
• Mainstream Feminine Products (MFP): These products include: tampons, pads, and panty liners. These are products that the general population would identify as the typical products women use during their period. They receive popular advertizing, mostly in women’s magazines or television advertisements. They are the well known brands (Tampax, o.b., Always, Playtex, Kotex, Stayfree, Carefree, etc.) as well as their store-brand “knock-offs”. In general their advertizing espouses notions that women ought to be “protected” from their periods and that the company’s products will do just that. Finally, these products are usually bleached to whiteness and disposable.
• Alternative Feminine Products (AFP): These products include: organic/all-cotton tampons, sea sponge tampons, reusable cloth pads, and menstrual cups. These products are not as ubiquitous as the mainstream products. They are often advertised (if at all) through body-positive or eco-friendly women’s magazines or by word of mouth.
5) Operationalize. Proposals for how you will measure these key concepts (variables).
I will use a cross-sectional study to survey menstruating women. Survey takers will be asked to check if/when was the last time they have had a period, with ranges supplied (within the last month, the last year, never). I will assess knowledge of FP by asking a series of questions such as “Which of the products below have you heard of?”, “Which of the following products have you personally used before?”, “Which of the following products could you explain to another woman how to use?”, etc. The responses to these questions I will be able to categorize as MFP or AFP. To measure positive/negative attitudes I will ask a series of questions with the responses “From 1 to 5, 1 being negative, 5 being positive, how do you feel about…?” or ask questions similar to “From 1 (anxious) to 5 (at ease) how nervous are you that you will leak onto your clothing while in public?”, etc.
6) A clear statement for the relevant units of analysis in your study.
My unit of analysis will be menstruating women.