Date of Award

8-7-2024

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

First Advisor

Stephanie Evans

Second Advisor

Jennie Burnet

Third Advisor

Julie Kubala

Abstract

The present study performed a critical feminist discourse analysis (CFDA) on narrative-style YouTube videos created by Black women while on their Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery journeys. Specifically, this study aimed to answer the main research question: What are Black women’s motivations for undergoing surgery? Additionally, it takes interest in examining the ways undergoing BBL surgery has impacted individual Black women’s mental health and wellness. Upon coding for the discursive objects “motivations” and “mental health impacts”, the following discourses and counter discourses emerged and were subsequently analyzed using a critical Black feminist theoretical framework: “doing it for me” empowerment discourse versus self-preservation counterdiscourse, postop satisfaction discourse versus postop regret discourse, mental obstacle discourse versus psychological resilience counterdiscourse and support system discourse. Conclusively, this study suggests that Black women’s decision-making and motivations for choosing BBL surgery is a topic of complexity and intricacies which suggest a need for further academic research and analysis.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.57709/37395223

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