Laura Mitchell wins GHWRG dissertation prize for work on everyday mobilities for women living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
The Geographies of Health and Wellbeing Research Group (GHWRG), part of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), has named Laura Mitchell as a joint winner of their 2021 undergraduate dissertation prize.
Laura has recently graduated from the BA Geography course at the University of Oxford's School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE). Her dissertation was titled: "Innocent until proven guilty, healthy until deemed unhealthy": Navigating everyday mobility for women with the (in)visible (dis)ability of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Laura used a broad combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies to reconceptualise the ways we frame (dis)ability and (in)visibility in the context of everyday transport. Through the lens of feminist geography, she worked to uncover some of the forces behind the emotional work that often women with PCOS are 'forced' to conduct (see Figure 1). She worked with Verity, a charity with the goal of raising the profile of PCOS as well as improving the lives of those with the condition.
Figure 1: A depiction of the themes that emerged in Laura's dissertation. This is a circular flow diagram which visualises how 'macro-scale' forces such as gender norms / medical ignorance of the condition and enacted stigma have have impacted women with PCOS on a micro-scale (individually). These impacts are through the inability to explain their condition felt stigma, which has led to and tactics to manage their symptom as it is 'easier to pass'. The flow chart then visualises how these micro-scale actions reinforce the macro-scale forces which strengthens gender norms.
Commenting on her win, Laura said: "I am extremely grateful to have been recognised for this award, especially as this research was incredibly personal as I myself suffer with PCOS. Even though I had my own personal experiences, I found the research process incredibly insightful into just how under researched this condition is. Therefore, being given this opportunity to raise awareness (especially as it impacts one in ten women) is something I am very appreciative of."
The GHWRG described the submissions from Laura and her co-winner (UCL's Finbar Aherne) as 'outstanding contributions to our field' offering 'unique and well-needed innovations to highly diverse areas of health geography'. Laura and Finbar each received £150 prize money. More information about the prize is available on the GHWRG website.
Laura Mitchell wins GHWRG dissertation prize for work on everyday mobilities for women living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
The Geographies of Health and Wellbeing Research Group (GHWRG), part of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), has named Laura Mitchell as a joint winner of their 2021 undergraduate dissertation prize.
