Abstract: Using the life history approach this study investigates the consequences of difference within the context of nursing. Life story interviews were conducted with 26 women nurses of varying racial, cultural and sexual identity backgrounds in the USA and New Zealand.The questions framing the interviews focused on the women's experience of difference and fairness in their lives and specifically within nursing.The creation of life story 'snippets' in the first level of analysis reflected the unique aspects of each woman's story and became the first step in the process of creating a thematic analysis or meta-story. The meta-story that emerged from the juxtaposition of the women's stories was “not fitting in to nursing”.The findings of this study suggest that in spite of the change in location of nursing education and its recent attention to the implications of client diversity, the continued imposition of traditional definitions of 'the nurse' by nursing institutions, renders difference amongst nurses invisible. This limits the ability of nurses to be authentic in their practice and also limits the extent to which they can implement the new policies recognizing difference amongst their client populations

Abstract: This research aims to illuminate the reality of health and health maintenance as four postmenopausal women understand and experience it. The research employs feminist methodology, informed by postmodern feminist writers, in order to allow maximum flexibility and to be congruent with supporting the exploratory nature of the research. The women in the study self-nominated as postmenopausal, and functioned equally as co-researchers with the researcher in a focus group which met twice for one-hour audiotaped interviews. The resultant combined statement on health was produced after thematic analysis of the data and individual reflection, and represents the values these women hold, that health is largely attitudinal.“Health is not what happens to you physically, emotionally or mentally, but how you deal with it.”It is notable that the women did not mention nurses as having a role in their health maintenance, nor were other health professionals considered to be essential. As well, hormone replacement therapy – a common theme in women's conversation and lay women's literature – was not mentioned as being an integral to the women's health maintenance. The methodological approach means that the research in non-generalisable. However the findings may add to existing knowledge about prevailing health concerns of postmenopausal women, may enhance the discourse, and may identify the need for further research

Abstract: Discourse about women assuming greater control over their childbirth experience has received much attention in contemporary childbirth and womens' studies publications. Research in the domain of childbirth has shown that a sense of control over one's birth experience is related to childbirth satisfaction. More specifically, studies have used Locus of Control measures and have found a significant relationship exists between expectations for control and choice of birth place. Choice of birth place features in some articles as a factor that determines the degree to which control can be exercised. Home, as a place of birth, is considered a setting in which a woman can have optimum control over her experience. Many women are discouraged from taking up this option, based on fears about safety. Reflection on why women continue to pursue a home birth against the wishes of their care giver rekindled and interest in Locus of Control. This study was undertaken to explore the relationship between urban women's choice of birth place setting and their scores on two different measures of Locus of Control (LOC). The aims of the study were: to test whether LOC scores predict choice of birth place for women who chose hospital, home or a birthing centre as their place of birth; to test which of the two LOC scales (Levenson's generalised measure or Wallston et al's more specific scale) is the most useful in predicting the influence of LOC and choice of birth place and to explore the relationship between choice of birth place LOC, demographic and contextual factors surrounding pregnancy. The method used in the study was a descriptive correlational design. One hundred and ninety four pregnant urban women who accessed a range of maternity care providers in the greater Auckland , Wellington , Christchurch and Dunedin cities responded to a “Birth Choice Survey” between April and June 1996. Tests of significance found significant differences for powerful others and chance Locus of Control among the three groups of women who chose hospital, home or a birthing center as a place of birth. Differences were significant at p = 0.05. No significant differences were ffound in the scores for internal Locus of Control for women in the three groups. Limitations in the sample sixe prevented linear discrimination being successful in predicting the influence and choice of LOC variables and choice of birth place for both scales. A classification tree was employed to identify key variables which might affect choice of birth place and indicated that women who were extremely happy with their birth place choice were more likely to be those who chose home birth. Locus of Control measures are interesting, and if used specifically, may be helpful in relation to understanding a women's choice of birth place. However general assessment of the contextual factors appears just as relevant. Implications of this study are the while women may differ in how they perceive their outcomes are determined, an overwhelming majority of women who participated in this study value their ability to make choices about their birth location. Identifying consumer perceptions about control and the contextual factors that influence women's choice of their birth place has the potential to clarify women's preferences for responsibility in their birth experience. Limitations of the study were addressed and included suggestions to improve response rates and thus generalizability of findings. Implications for further research were also considered