27th Annual Student Research Conference
Lived Experience of Being a Woman in Two Cultures for Bicultural Women
Erin S. Bavery
Dr. Stephen Hadwiger, Faculty Mentor
Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive phenomenology study was to explore the lived experience of being a woman within two cultural systems for bicultural women living in the Midwestern United States. Method: Five bicultural women, representing 5 different ethnic identities, were interviewed; their transcripts were inductively analyzed through the Colaizzi method for descriptive phenomenology. Findings: Six essential structures were induced from the interview transcripts: 1) expectations within the native culture, 2) women in a subordinate position in the native culture, 3) recognizing differences, 4) openness and honesty to self and others, 5) power of women, and 6) seeking balance. Conclusions: By gaining a better understanding of the perceptions of bicultural women, health care providers can be more sensitive when providing care to bicultural women or when working with bicultural women as family members of patients from a different culture.
Keywords: Bicultural, Women, Lived Experience
Topic(s):Anthropology
Psychology
Nursing
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 3-2
Location: GEO - SUB
Time: 3:30