Term of Award
Summer 2025
Degree Name
Master of Arts, Social Science
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Committee Chair
Heidi M. Altman
Committee Member 1
April M. Schueths
Committee Member 2
Jennifer Sweeney Tookes
Abstract
Different cultural groups have their own unique approaches to postpartum care, with the Chinese tradition known as “Zuo Yuezi 坐月子”, or “doing the month,” being one of the most notable. This practice entails a month-long period of confinement and dedicated care following childbirth, emphasizing the importance of rest and adhering to specific dietary guidelines to facilitate recovery. Despite its cultural significance, there is a scarcity of research focusing on postpartum care within the Chinese immigrant community in the Southeastern United States. This study explores and documents their postpartum experiences while examining the interplay between healthcare practices, migration, and traditional customs within a global framework. Findings suggest that traditional Chinese postpartum care positively impacts the recovery process, as noted by the women interviewed in the study.
Recommended Citation
Chen, Yan-Ling, "“坐月子 Zuo Yuezi”: the Experiences of Traditional Postpartum Care among Chinese Women in the Southeastern Us" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2980.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/2980
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
