Apryle Pickering

Apryle and her friend chew the fat in Fiji

Based on previous fieldwork in Fiji, I have a strong research interest in women’s status and the impact of status on health and fertility outcomes. Currently I am contemplating two directions for thesis research, which I plan to conduct in Nepal. One possibility I am considering is to look at the role of women in Nepalese society and the phenomenon of bokshi (the labeling of widows as witches). The tentative study site for this project is a shelter in Kathmandu, where women who have been abused and branded as witches find refuge. By working with the women of this micro-community, I hope to gain insight into the causes of the abuse and the impact it has had on their lives and their children as well. The second topic I am considering focuses on the socio-cultural factors in Nepal most strongly influencing fertility, which may include ethnicity, religion, caste, SES, marriage type and other family system factors.