Contextualising syncrecy : exploring health beliefs and behaviours of British Asian mothers

Abstract

This thesis explores the health beliefs and behaviours of thirty women who identify themselves as British Asian mothers. The study is situated in the midlands town of Leicester and is based on semi-structured interviews with British Asian mothers, that is Asian women either born in or who have lived in Britain from the age of five who have at least one dependent child. The research engages with and develops theoretical frameworks used in research on ethnicity and identity to explore the idea that the beliefs and behaviours of British Asian mothers within the study are syncretic. A theoretical framework of syncrecy is used to investigate the way in which the women draw on different types of health discourses, both western and non-western. The research also explores the role of contextual and material circumstances on beliefs and behaviours.

The findings indicate that women's beliefs and behaviours are syncretic. There is a need however to ground syncretic beliefs and behaviours within the contextual circumstances of the women researched. In particular the thesis shows that syncrecy within the women's accounts is influenced by: particular illnesses; family and position in the life-cycle; community, religion and identity; and space and globalization. Overall, the women research identify their position as 'British Asian' women, as members of a particular ethnic and generational group that affords them access to a plurality of discourses. These discourses are then used syncretically and conditionally according to context. Within the study women identify changes in their beliefs and behaviours over time. Respondents predicted a continued syncrecy within their beliefs and behaviours but suggest a shift in content of that syncrecy, favouring different discourses at different times. Women within the study also suggested a decreased use of non-western health discourses among the beliefs and behaviours of their children's generation.

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