I had the privilege of interviewing two CNBC women this week for my class project where I am exploring the experiences of women without children after failed IVF. The interviews were incredible. I received so much rich narrative data, and I could barely believe the trust these women put in me. They shared some of their most hard-earned knowledge, some of their most brutal years with me... All so I could get valuable practice with conducting qualitative research. To say I am grateful is an understatement.
I think I'm on to something. We've all been in agreement for years that women need and deserve so much more support after going through fertility treatments. Fertility clinics usually leave women like us hanging. We are forced to fend for ourselves. I think if the scientific community had published evidence to reference, then therapeutic programs could be developed. I believe it is a much needed area of support for a very marginalized, unserved population.
I am seriously considering taking this on as my capstone, the culminating research project required for my doctoral degree. If so, I will need you. I will need all of you. Not just those with experience with IVF failure, I want to include all CNBC women who have experienced infertility. I want to represent our international population. Even if you are not available or interested in being interviewed, you may know a woman who is. My other idea is to reach out to fertility clinics and see if I can recruit research participants there. I will need enough participants to conduct a pilot study. There is a lot to be planned out for an undertaking like this. I have a professor that I trust to help guide me in the process. Starting next semester, I will have a year to complete it. I think, like everything else, I will keep putting one foot in front of the other and see what happens.
There's something freeing about a CNBC woman meeting another one. There are so many explanations we don't have to make, we don't have to brace against offensive or insensitive statements, or against the pronatalism we face in the rest of the world. And so there is a real trust there. And your project sounds amazing. I'm excited for you.
ReplyDeleteDo let us know when or if you need help in finding research subjects. I can tap into an Aus/NZ Childfree/childless group that would certainly find some willing participants. And of course blog readers too.
I agree! There really is something freeing about meeting another CNBC woman. In addition to my two interviews last week, I had a long phone conversation with a third CNBC woman. It was so nourishing and energizing! We didn't have to watch what we said and nearly everything was just automatically understood.
DeleteAnd thank you!! I'd really like to get international representation in my sample for my pilot study. I appreciate your offer of help to connect with Aus/NZ women. I'm not sure when I would be doing the data collection. I need to design the study first. I think it will be sometime in the fall or winter, which I suppose is the spring or summer in Aus/NZ. :)
I loooove this so much! It is awesome to meet all the powerful women on this journey, but I agree with Mali, there is something special and freeing about talking freely with other CNBC women. Even if our experiences are different, there's that sisterhood there of a certain brand of "that shit did NOT work out." Anything that you can do to add to the research and provide better support to people when the hope peddling fails, will be a lifesaver.
ReplyDeleteThere's something that other childless-not-by-choice women just GET. Soo much doesn't have to be explained. It's relieving.
DeleteSo excited to read about this. It's something I'm very passionate about too but have no professional cornerstones to work from on this front. Let me know whatever you need, I'll support you in any way I can!
ReplyDeleteThank you!! I will, of course, keep you updated! :)
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