Project Description
The ART of Infertility is an art and oral history project, co-directed by Maria Novotny (UWM English Dept.). Since the organization’s inception, project leads have conducted over one hundred interviews, curated innovative art exhibits, designed engaging curricula through writing and art workshops, hosted creative readings and conference panels, and curated a multi-media blog. Through these activities, we research how individuals represent their experiences with infertility through creative outlets such as writing, art, or other multi-modal means. Research findings advocate that arts-based methods can support fertility patients as they cope with the mental, physical, and emotional struggles of building their family. With growing interest in our research, we are now assembling an edited book collection containing patient art and writing. At this point, we have a book proposal and are in preliminary talks with a publisher. That said, we have been advised to include more diversity. SURF funding will support a student researcher to aid us in identifying and recruiting more diverse art and writing pieces from persons with first-hand experience with infertility. The student will adopt a queer and feminist methodology (guided by the faculty advisor) to identify and potentially invite diverse contributors for this book.
Tasks and Responsibilites
The student will be mentored by the faculty advisor to understand infertility from an intersectional feminist and queer methodology (aka that infertility representation must expand beyond the normalized 'white, middle-class' representation it has taken on over the years). By developing this intersectional orientation to the work, the faculty member will identify a series of edited collections and blogs where infertility is often discussed by patients. The student will then begin to evaluate and code the sources for diversity (using the methodology) in a spreadsheet. As the work progresses, the student will be invited to expand their research and identify other potential sources containing diverse infertility experiences. Those will be added to the spreadsheet and shared with the faculty advisor at bi-weekly meetings. The ultimate aim is to have a collection of potential diverse infertility persons we can reach out to and recruit for the edited book collection.
Desired Qualifications
None listed.