Ruth DeSouza » Women's Health

Womens' Health

I am interested in the inter-sections of gender, ethnicity, class, sexuality etc. In New Zealand Mäori women consistently experience disproportionately greater inequalities than non-Mäori women and men (including Mäori men). Ethnicity has an additional impact on health status but remains poorly researched. I am interested in the experiences of women migrants (see my Profile page for links to my publications and presentations). In particular, their experiences in the private sphere and in the maintenance of culture and their experiences of parenting. Typically, women migrants have been cast as passive appendages to men in the migration process.There is a growing body of research on women's experiences of migration and settlement.

General Links

Gender and migration links

Feminist Resources

Women and Law

Women of colour resources

Women and Technology resources

Women's mental health

Brown (1992) argues that androcentric gender role norms and stereotypes influence judgements of psychopathology, which result in stigmatisation by mental health professionals of gender role traits that are normative for women.Some feminists argue that the mental health setting often mirrors abusive interpersonal power dynamics. The presence of a powerful other can exacerbate symptoms and vary from how someone presents in a more power-equal situation. Many non-exploitative situations would need to be experienced before patterns of survival were relinquished.

Borderline Personality Disorder

There is a lot of debate around the definition and diagnosis of BPD. It was a term first used in 1938 to refer to a group of disorders that lie between neuroses and psychoses but can also be used as a disparaging label for difficult people. 77% of people diagnosed with BPD are women. The trauma perspective is gaining increased recognition as studies show strong correlations between sexual or physical abuse in early childhood and the development of BPD. Herman (1992) argues that what is labelled BPD is a manifestation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), called "complex PTSD", which follows prolonged, repeated trauma resulting in personality changes (most prominently identity and relationship disturbance).

Domestic Violence

New Zealand Resources

Domestic Violence and Indians in New Zealand

International Resources

home   migration & culture   mental health   women's health   nursing   education   research   profile   contact

Copyright © 2003-2007 Ruth DeSouza. All rights reserved. Contact: ruth[at]wairua.com.