In recent years, the abysmal maternal health disparities in the United States have commanded intense media attention, infusions of funding for clinical interventions, and sustained grassroots advocacy. Yet, racial inequalities, lack of access to health resources, and cross-cultural barriers have contributed to worsening or stagnating outcomes rather than improvements. Based on current scholarship, it is abundantly clear that clinical solutions must be augmented by community-level cultural initiatives to support families throughout the prenatal, birth, and postpartum periods.
Utilizing a community-based research (CBR) approach, I have collaborated with community advocates, public health officials, scholars, and practitioners to conduct a comprehensive analysis of postpartum and breastfeeding policies and initiatives in Forsyth County, NC, engage in systems-mapping, and conduct a critical analysis of media messaging and awareness raising campaigns. The CBR approach has enabled me to engage ethically with community stakeholders and strategize with them about the needs of the community and how best to co-create a culture-centered, informative, and supportive resource hub. This work has also been incorporated into multiple courses and student group projects at Salem College. The collaboration process and creative outcomes will be shared during the proposed presentation.
Spring Duvall, PhD, is Associate Professor of Communication and Media Studies at Salem College, where she teaches a range of courses including several focused on motherhood and media. She is the editor of Celebrity & Youth: Mediated Audiences, Fame Aspirations, and Identity Formation (2018) and co-author of Snatched (2016). Her research is published in academic journals including Celebrity Studies; Communication, Culture, and Critique; Feminist Media Studies; and Journal of Communication Inquiry. As a stitcher and maker, she recently completed a Metalwork residency at Mixxer Community Makerspace and also teaches an experimental fiber arts course, contributes to craftivism projects, and studies DIY subcultures, consumerism, and sustainability.