9412381 Knauft / Wardlow This project involves the dissertation research of an anthropology student from Emory University. The student will study the socio-cultural repercussions of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in a tribal society of Papua New Guinea. The project will focus on how women in this society use this disease category to gain moral social status, by accusing men of spreading the disease. Using in-depth interviews with two samples of women, 50 who reported STD and 50 women who have not, the project will analyze women's choices, rhetoric, and social status. In addition the project will analyze data from records of clinics on the prevalence of STDs. This research is important because it will provide a valuable case study of the impact of STDs on a tribal population. By studying the variations in how diseases impact on women's lives and how women use the existence of STDs to negotiate for more autonomy and social status, the project will advance our understanding of gender relations in traditional societies and of the cultural interpretations of STDs. Improvements in our knowledge of how people interpret the meaning of STDs is a necessary step towards designing interventions that work to control the diseases.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
9412381
Program Officer
Stuart Plattner
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1995-02-01
Budget End
1996-01-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
$2,805
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322