How might we co-create a dialogue that empowers individuals with PCOS to advocate for their needs in social and civic spaces?
This work is part of a Graduate thesis project at the School of Visual Arts’ Design for Social Innovation Masters Program. It is created in collaboration with individuals living with PCOS and PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association.
"Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose"
— Zora Neale Hurston
The ecosystem of care delivery for individuals with PCOS involves support on an individual, provider and community level: An individual navigating the healthcare system in the U.S. may face several challenges. From identification of needs to connecting to support:
When a system is broken, how might individuals find ways to heal?
To explore this thought further, I focused on the significance of social relationships and how community support can help individuals with PCOS.
I conducted Secondary and Primary research through interviews, workshops and focus groups to uncover emerging themes and insights.
Seasons of Cysterhood is a design intervention that empowers individuals living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) to discover moments of transformation and healing through advocacy, storytelling, and relationships. The intervention has a primary goal of increasing advocacy efforts around PCOS through peer and community support. Some of the tools of this intervention include; self-reflection prompts, a resource guide, a starter package for legislative letter writing that includes educational content around the legislative writing process, community impact and a template for patients, providers and supporters to use.
The goal of this thesis intervention is to increase advocacy efforts around PCOS awareness and care through self-advocacy, community support and legislative advocacy. The elements of this intervention collectively provide increased access to tools and resources for PCOS while also increasing awareness, support and education about PCOS among local civic agencies, and friends and family of PCOS patients.