Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

Summer 7-27-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

August 2026

Department

Anthropology

College Granting Degree

Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters

Department Granting Degree

Anthropology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Michael S. Harris

Abstract

This qualitative research was conducted among Bangladeshi immigrant women living in South Florida who have given birth here. Twenty Bangladeshi immigrant women were selected using the snowball sampling method from various cities in South Florida. The unit of analysis was the individual Bangladeshi immigrant woman, focusing on her experiences and behavior during pregnancy and childbirth. Semi-structured interviewing and case study methods were used for data collection. The results reveal the coping strategies and the navigation process of socio-cultural transition from non-mother to mother, and the Bangladeshi traditional views regarding beliefs, rituals, and practices of Bangladeshi immigrant women regarding their pregnancy and childbirth. This study explores the actual perceptions of giving birth in a different country through Bangladeshi immigrant women’s childbirth experiences in South Florida. The study also examines transnational communication and participation during the birthing and postnatal periods, through phone-based guidance from mothers and mothers-in-law in Bangladesh. It also explores the family dynamics in a transnational context, particularly the husband's expanded caregiving role in the perinatal journey. Finally, it documents Bangladeshi mothers’ positive perceptions of the American birth system and their interactions with medical personnel and staff.

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