Here's my initial attempt at a real research project--
Behold: The Survey!
If you are a student/former student/spouse of a student at BYU, please take my survey. If there's anything confusing or you think should be reworded, please leave it as a comment. Thanks!
trying our best to keep austin weird.
Why would a woman choose not to breastfeed?
ReplyDelete>I think all of these reasons might be why they don't. So all of the above; but - do you mean "What do you feel is an appropriate reason for a women to choose not to breastfeed?" or what do you mean in this question?
Should breastfeeding be portrayed in the entertainment media?
>I don't know that it really matters either way, but is it appropriate to show breastfeeding? Sure.
I think there should be a neither disagree or agree. Some of these, I'm a bit ambivalent.
Church - in a meeting at church? or in a church building?
I'm supportive of breastfeeding - but the survey definitely seems a bit tilted. I kind of felt like I knew how I was SUPPOSED to answer... regardless of my feelings on the issue. The wording of some of the questions seem a bit biased.
I'm excited to hear the results of your research. What a fun topic!
one thing i would reword is breast feeding at church, are you meaning in the actual meting or in the mothers lounge? Because that will defiantly create different answers I would agree with Coralie it does seem a bit biased, there needs to be more questions ect.
ReplyDeleteIn the questions where you ask whether or not it's okay to breastfeed in certain locations you need to specify whether or not you mean if the mother is covering up.
ReplyDeleteDone and done.
ReplyDeleteI noticed on the section with "strongly disagree, disagree, agree, or strongly agree" there is no option for "neither disagree nor agree." Is there supposed to be that option?
ReplyDeleteI love this--way to go Caitlin!
The questions are poorly worded and the terms ill-defined. I strongly agree that a mother should breastfeed in the mother's lounge at the Movie Theatres, but not while sitting in the theatre inches from strangers (taking babies into movie theatres is a whole different issue). You didn't specify where in the Movies/Church/Mall/Whatever, where precisely the hypothetical breastfeeder was situated.
ReplyDeleteYou also let your bias show through far too clearly. In the question about the reasons why one might think it unecessary for a woman to breastfeed you give options like "inconvenience" and it's very obvious you are passionate about women breastfeeding, and condescending to those who do not. Breastfeeding is "convenient" by the dictionary definition of the word, if you look at it practically - less costly, requires less preparation than a bottle (no store trips etc. For one to think a convenience "inconvenient" it can only be inconvenient to a lifestyle or something else more selfish. It seems to me that you are implying, when you give 'inconvenience' as an reason for not breastfeeding, that you are putting it in quotation marks.
For some reason, it also seems that you are trying too hard to link liberalism with being pro-breastfeeding, which I don't appreciate or agree with, but that's my personal opinion and less of survey-style criticism.
I also think, having read substantial volumes of academic, sociological, psychological, and anthropological articles on the culture of breastfeeding, that you are determined to 'enlighten' individuals who feel breastfeeding should be executed in a private place, or the woman breastfeeding should remain modest. I think it's great that you're enthusiastic about educating women about this intimate aspect of femininity, because certainly, the abiity to breastfeed is certainly a divine endowment of sorts. I just have a problem with the afore mentioned attitude.
Black and white, some people just aren't comfortable with a woman exposing the double edged sword which are breasts; since they are (unfortunately or not) a symbol of sexuality in our culture, AND a maternal resource. Our culture is rooted on foundations who valued modesty, so it's absolutely no surprise the elements of that attitude remain.
While I can see that perhaps some girls need educating, as far as being made aware that breastfeeding is nothing to be embarrassed/shy about (rather,to be proud of, perhaps). But taking pride in a woman's feminity doesn't require her to shove it in people's faces.
Same thing with being liberal, really. One does not further glorify or prove their commitment to being liberal by shoving it in people's faces.
My professor advised me to not use a "neither agree nor disagree" option simply because in some surveys people will just use that answer over and over and not really think. It's a technique in survey research to use an even-numbered scale so it forces respondents to take a side. As for all other comments, I will definitely work on the questions before it's officially launched. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI agree with J and C, The Stells, and especially Naomi. I also wanted to know what you meant by "breastfeeding" in the entertainment media question. In what way will it be portrayed--that makes a big difference.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to see the results once you fix everything.
Should breastfeeding be portrayed in the entertainment media?
ReplyDeleteThis question is confusing because do you want it portrayed positively, negatively, or either? I just watched an episode of Gilmore Girls with the moms in Luke's and they start breastfeeding and Luke and Jess think it's disgusting.
Also, the uncovered breastfeeding in public question is a little confusing, ask the COVERED breastfeeding question first, then the uncovered.