Many people helped me through the planning, researching and writing of the dissertation. First, I... more Many people helped me through the planning, researching and writing of the dissertation. First, I want to thank the 30 women who volunteered their time to share their stories with me. All of the women with whom I met were friendly and open and their stories show remarkable strength of character and wise insight about their life experiences. I carry memories of their stories, hardships, tears and laughter with me and I was honored to meet with and talk to them. Without their generous gift of time, this research would not have been possible. My deepest thanks go to Debra Umberson. Since I first talked about menopause research with her in 1994, she has provided enthusiastic support and excellent guidance about how to strengthen and clarify my ideas. I admire her as a teacher, a scholar and a mentor, and I have enjoyed working with her throughout my years in graduate school. Many thanks to Christine Williams whose graduate courses in gender and methods were outstanding and among my favo...
OBJECTIVE African American men die from prostate cancer at higher rates than do White men, a heal... more OBJECTIVE African American men die from prostate cancer at higher rates than do White men, a health disparity that may result from differences in knowledge and beliefs about prostate cancer and screening. Studies conflict on whether race or socioeconomic status affects knowledge of prostate cancer and screening. This study compared education, race, and screening status to determine how each factor shapes men's knowledge of prostate cancer and screening. METHODS In-depth interviews were conducted with 65 African American and White men, aged 40-64 years, with diverse educational backgrounds. RESULTS Education, not race or screening status, was associated with knowledge about the prostate gland, prostate cancer symptoms and screening tests, and fear of prostate cancer. The exception was knowledge about the prostate-specific antigen blood test, which was associated with education and screening status. CONCLUSION This study suggests that education may be associated with prostate canc...
To compare how education, race, and screening status affected men&amp... more To compare how education, race, and screening status affected men's knowledge about colorectal cancer and their views of 3 screenings: the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. In-depth interviews were conducted with 65 African American and white men with diverse education backgrounds with similar numbers screened and unscreened. Education was associated with knowledge about colorectal cancer and the colonoscopy. Screening status and education were related to FOBT knowledge. Men knew little about the sigmoidoscopy. Intervention programs should tailor education about colorectal cancer and screening by educational attainment levels, not by race.
To compare how education, race, and screening status affected men&amp... more To compare how education, race, and screening status affected men's knowledge about colorectal cancer and their views of 3 screenings: the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. In-depth interviews were conducted with 65 African American and white men with diverse education backgrounds with similar numbers screened and unscreened. Education was associated with knowledge about colorectal cancer and the colonoscopy. Screening status and education were related to FOBT knowledge. Men knew little about the sigmoidoscopy. Intervention programs should tailor education about colorectal cancer and screening by educational attainment levels, not by race.
The author ponders what interpersonal, institutional and cultural changes might occur if the most... more The author ponders what interpersonal, institutional and cultural changes might occur if the most privileged social group was the victim of sexual violence in college rather than trans, queer, non-conforming, questioning and cis-women as reported by the largest study to date on harassment, assault and rape in college by the Association of American Universities. She argues that the resources that might be provided if heterosexual cis men were assaulted more than everyone else should be provided now to eradicate sexual violence on college campuses.
Past research finds that after menopause some women experience negative changes such as vaginal d... more Past research finds that after menopause some women experience negative changes such as vaginal dry- ness, decreased libido, and decreased orgasm quality; very little research inquires about positive changes. In contrast, this study shifts the research focus from whether women experience menopausal changes to how women view any changes in sex life. Based on 30 in-depth interviews with heterosexual and lesbian women, the author finds that most women emphasize cultural and social issues, such as relationship status and quality, health, and sexual history, rather than menopausal changes when they describe sex after menopause. However, she finds a difference by sexual orientation in how women handle problems in sex. The author concludes by discussing the implication of this research for future menopause and sex research; most important, she emphasizes studying sex in the context of women’s lives rather than as a result of the biological changes of menopause.
African American men die from prostate cancer at higher rates than do White men, a health dispari... more African American men die from prostate cancer at higher rates than do White men, a health disparity that may result from differences in knowledge and beliefs about prostate cancer and screening. Studies conflict on whether race or socioeconomic status affects knowledge of prostate cancer and screening. This study compared education, race, and screening status to determine how each factor shapes men's knowledge of prostate cancer and screening. In-depth interviews were conducted with 65 African American and White men, aged 40-64 years, with diverse educational backgrounds. Education, not race or screening status, was associated with knowledge about the prostate gland, prostate cancer symptoms and screening tests, and fear of prostate cancer. The exception was knowledge about the prostate-specific antigen blood test, which was associated with education and screening status. This study suggests that education may be associated with prostate cancer and screening knowledge. Intervent...
This study analyzes personal accounts of women's menopausal experiences to understand why most wo... more This study analyzes personal accounts of women's menopausal experiences to understand why most women view menopause as an insignificant event, despite negative cultural and medical constructions of menopause as a time of “loss.” We analyze 16 in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of women to examine how social contexts affect women's experiences with menopause and the meaning of those experiences. We find that most women view menopause as inconsequential because other events of midlife are more important or stressful to them. However, when cultural and medical contexts are examined, we find that some women do not avoid others' negative constructions of menopause as a time of loss.
In this article, I analyze interviews with a diverse group of 30 women aged 46–71 to understand h... more In this article, I analyze interviews with a diverse group of 30 women aged 46–71 to understand how they experience signs of aging, such as weight gain, gray hair, and facial hair, in everyday life. I find that some women’s responses are in line with normative femininity and appearance norms. Others, however, focus on different gendered meanings of the body that are connected to care-taking, work, ageist treatment, and past abuse. I argue that feminists should apply the theoretical concept of femininity more broadly than appearance and attraction issues to gain a deeper understanding of the multiple meanings of living in an aging female body in a gendered society. In the conclusion, I discuss the implications of this study for public health policies as well as future research on gender and the body.
Many people helped me through the planning, researching and writing of the dissertation. First, I... more Many people helped me through the planning, researching and writing of the dissertation. First, I want to thank the 30 women who volunteered their time to share their stories with me. All of the women with whom I met were friendly and open and their stories show remarkable strength of character and wise insight about their life experiences. I carry memories of their stories, hardships, tears and laughter with me and I was honored to meet with and talk to them. Without their generous gift of time, this research would not have been possible. My deepest thanks go to Debra Umberson. Since I first talked about menopause research with her in 1994, she has provided enthusiastic support and excellent guidance about how to strengthen and clarify my ideas. I admire her as a teacher, a scholar and a mentor, and I have enjoyed working with her throughout my years in graduate school. Many thanks to Christine Williams whose graduate courses in gender and methods were outstanding and among my favo...
OBJECTIVE African American men die from prostate cancer at higher rates than do White men, a heal... more OBJECTIVE African American men die from prostate cancer at higher rates than do White men, a health disparity that may result from differences in knowledge and beliefs about prostate cancer and screening. Studies conflict on whether race or socioeconomic status affects knowledge of prostate cancer and screening. This study compared education, race, and screening status to determine how each factor shapes men's knowledge of prostate cancer and screening. METHODS In-depth interviews were conducted with 65 African American and White men, aged 40-64 years, with diverse educational backgrounds. RESULTS Education, not race or screening status, was associated with knowledge about the prostate gland, prostate cancer symptoms and screening tests, and fear of prostate cancer. The exception was knowledge about the prostate-specific antigen blood test, which was associated with education and screening status. CONCLUSION This study suggests that education may be associated with prostate canc...
To compare how education, race, and screening status affected men&amp... more To compare how education, race, and screening status affected men's knowledge about colorectal cancer and their views of 3 screenings: the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. In-depth interviews were conducted with 65 African American and white men with diverse education backgrounds with similar numbers screened and unscreened. Education was associated with knowledge about colorectal cancer and the colonoscopy. Screening status and education were related to FOBT knowledge. Men knew little about the sigmoidoscopy. Intervention programs should tailor education about colorectal cancer and screening by educational attainment levels, not by race.
To compare how education, race, and screening status affected men&amp... more To compare how education, race, and screening status affected men's knowledge about colorectal cancer and their views of 3 screenings: the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. In-depth interviews were conducted with 65 African American and white men with diverse education backgrounds with similar numbers screened and unscreened. Education was associated with knowledge about colorectal cancer and the colonoscopy. Screening status and education were related to FOBT knowledge. Men knew little about the sigmoidoscopy. Intervention programs should tailor education about colorectal cancer and screening by educational attainment levels, not by race.
The author ponders what interpersonal, institutional and cultural changes might occur if the most... more The author ponders what interpersonal, institutional and cultural changes might occur if the most privileged social group was the victim of sexual violence in college rather than trans, queer, non-conforming, questioning and cis-women as reported by the largest study to date on harassment, assault and rape in college by the Association of American Universities. She argues that the resources that might be provided if heterosexual cis men were assaulted more than everyone else should be provided now to eradicate sexual violence on college campuses.
Past research finds that after menopause some women experience negative changes such as vaginal d... more Past research finds that after menopause some women experience negative changes such as vaginal dry- ness, decreased libido, and decreased orgasm quality; very little research inquires about positive changes. In contrast, this study shifts the research focus from whether women experience menopausal changes to how women view any changes in sex life. Based on 30 in-depth interviews with heterosexual and lesbian women, the author finds that most women emphasize cultural and social issues, such as relationship status and quality, health, and sexual history, rather than menopausal changes when they describe sex after menopause. However, she finds a difference by sexual orientation in how women handle problems in sex. The author concludes by discussing the implication of this research for future menopause and sex research; most important, she emphasizes studying sex in the context of women’s lives rather than as a result of the biological changes of menopause.
African American men die from prostate cancer at higher rates than do White men, a health dispari... more African American men die from prostate cancer at higher rates than do White men, a health disparity that may result from differences in knowledge and beliefs about prostate cancer and screening. Studies conflict on whether race or socioeconomic status affects knowledge of prostate cancer and screening. This study compared education, race, and screening status to determine how each factor shapes men's knowledge of prostate cancer and screening. In-depth interviews were conducted with 65 African American and White men, aged 40-64 years, with diverse educational backgrounds. Education, not race or screening status, was associated with knowledge about the prostate gland, prostate cancer symptoms and screening tests, and fear of prostate cancer. The exception was knowledge about the prostate-specific antigen blood test, which was associated with education and screening status. This study suggests that education may be associated with prostate cancer and screening knowledge. Intervent...
This study analyzes personal accounts of women's menopausal experiences to understand why most wo... more This study analyzes personal accounts of women's menopausal experiences to understand why most women view menopause as an insignificant event, despite negative cultural and medical constructions of menopause as a time of “loss.” We analyze 16 in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of women to examine how social contexts affect women's experiences with menopause and the meaning of those experiences. We find that most women view menopause as inconsequential because other events of midlife are more important or stressful to them. However, when cultural and medical contexts are examined, we find that some women do not avoid others' negative constructions of menopause as a time of loss.
In this article, I analyze interviews with a diverse group of 30 women aged 46–71 to understand h... more In this article, I analyze interviews with a diverse group of 30 women aged 46–71 to understand how they experience signs of aging, such as weight gain, gray hair, and facial hair, in everyday life. I find that some women’s responses are in line with normative femininity and appearance norms. Others, however, focus on different gendered meanings of the body that are connected to care-taking, work, ageist treatment, and past abuse. I argue that feminists should apply the theoretical concept of femininity more broadly than appearance and attraction issues to gain a deeper understanding of the multiple meanings of living in an aging female body in a gendered society. In the conclusion, I discuss the implications of this study for public health policies as well as future research on gender and the body.
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handle problems in sex. The author concludes by discussing the implication of this research for future menopause and sex research; most important, she emphasizes studying sex in the context of women’s lives rather than as a result of the biological changes of menopause.
handle problems in sex. The author concludes by discussing the implication of this research for future menopause and sex research; most important, she emphasizes studying sex in the context of women’s lives rather than as a result of the biological changes of menopause.