Date of Award

Summer 8-24-2024

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Anthropology

Organizational Unit

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Anthropology

First Advisor

Alejandro Cerón

Second Advisor

Dean Saitta

Third Advisor

Julia Roncoroni

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Infertility, Narrative analysis, Mindful body framework, Biomedical treatment, Patient-generated narratives

Abstract

Infertility is a distressing experience for those diagnosed and often exacerbated by engagement with biomedical treatments. This thesis is an exploration of infertility “journeys” posted on YouTube. Through a narrative analysis of 8 YouTube channels, several key themes were identified, specifically embodiment of the infertility label, barriers to treatment, and agency. This work uses the mindful body framework to look at how the individual body, social body, and body politic shape and reinforce these themes in the context of biomedical infertility treatment. These findings suggest infertility is a dynamic and distressing experience but by engaging in the narrative process, through the creation of video blogs and connecting with a community, the creators were able to mediate their distress. Recommendations from this research encourages additional attention be paid to patient-generated narratives as well as filling gaps in the literature around those not currently represented in the infertility, and especially treatment-seeking, community.

Copyright Date

8-2024

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Patricia Carrillo

Provenance

Received from Author

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

117 pgs

File Size

784 KB

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