Everyday challenges and perspectives of women who stutter Cover Image

Izazovi i perspektive svakodnevnog života iz iskustva žena koje mucaju
Everyday challenges and perspectives of women who stutter

Author(s): Ana Leko Krhen, Marina Milić Babić, Maja Horovskij
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Applied Linguistics, Phonetics / Phonology, Clinical psychology
Published by: Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Edukacijsko-rehabilitacijski fakultet
Keywords: women; stuttering; support; personal life; professional life; speech therapy;

Summary/Abstract: This study aimed to provide insights into the everyday life experiences of women who stutter based on data collected from six female participants. The average age of the participants was 29 years, they lived in an urban area, and had completed higher education studies. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and a short questionnaire about socio-demographic factors. Qualitative content analysis was used to process the data collected in the interviews. The results indicated a correlation between the personal attributes of women who stutter and their experiences in the context of work and employment. These participants believed that personality traits were linked to outcomes related to employment or promotions. They also highlighted specific experiences involving the fear of being mocked, especially during public speaking, as well as the fear of their stutter having a negative impact on their professional activities. In their personal lives, the participants reported receiving support from their partners and families, as well as their colleagues in academic and professional environments. Our results offer an insight into the specific experiences of adult women who stutter, and reveal the circumstances that cause fear or additional difficulties among these women. These results must be taken into consideration while developing a support system for people who stutter.

  • Issue Year: 57/2021
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 85-115
  • Page Count: 31
  • Language: English, Croatian