eprintid: 7219
rev_number: 4
userid: 6
dir: disk0/00/00/72/19
datestamp: 2011-11-10 19:37:44
lastmod: 2016-11-15 13:40:33
status_changed: 2011-11-10 19:37:44
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: mbrusoski@yahoo.com
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Brusoski, Melissa Ann
creators_email: mbrusoski@yahoo.com
title: Photovoice Families: Lesbian Families Captured in Photographs
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_behavioralcommhealthsci
full_text_status: public
keywords: family; lesbian
abstract: Based on a social-ecological model of health, this thesis discusses the results of an exploratory, qualitative study, Photovoice Families that employed Photovoice and photo-elicitation methodology to examine how 12 lesbian women in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area defined and configured their families. Participants were given disposable cameras and asked to photograph the people that they considered to be a part of their family. This study explores the structure of family within the lesbian community and the meaning attached to the roles of individuals in lesbian women's lives. Previous research suggests that many lesbian and gay people create "families of choice" out of a network of friends, co-workers and others because of a lack of acceptance or understanding from their families of origin. Other studies contradict these findings and reveal that lesbian women do remain connected with families of origin and that these people have important roles in their lives. Participants in this study chose parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, surrogate families, friends, their community and many other people to photograph and to call family. More important than the concepts of families of origin or families of choice was the idea that families take care of and protect each other, regardless of whether they are related by biology or friendship. This study suggests that the creation of family is an active process in which women designate people whose relationships support and affirm them. A social-ecological model of health views all aspects of a person's environment including social, cultural and family backgrounds as important factors that impact health. Support and influence from others, particularly close friends and family members, can have an impact on both a person's physical health as well as their sense of emotional well-being. By illuminating sources of social support in a population that is frequently marginalized and ignored, this study can make an important contribution to the design of public health programs and policies.
date: 2007-06-26
date_type: completed
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: committee_chair
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_type: committee_member
etdcommittee_name: McAllister, Carol
etdcommittee_name: Gould, Deborah
etdcommittee_name: Burke, Jessica
etdcommittee_email: allister@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: dgould@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: jgburke@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: ALLISTER
etdcommittee_id: DGOULD
etdcommittee_id: JGBURKE
etd_defense_date: 2007-04-23
etd_approval_date: 2007-06-26
etd_submission_date: 2007-04-16
etd_access_restriction: immediate
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
assigned_doi: doi:10.5195/pitt.etd.2011.7219
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
committee: Carol McAllister, PhD (allister@pitt.edu) - Committee Chair
committee: Deborah Gould, PhD (dgould@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
committee: Jessica Burke, PhD (jgburke@pitt.edu) - Committee Member
etdurn: etd-04162007-105033
other_id: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-04162007-105033/
other_id: etd-04162007-105033
citation:   Brusoski, Melissa Ann  (2007) Photovoice Families: Lesbian Families Captured in Photographs.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/7219/1/Brusoski_M_2007.pdf