To break it down, for non-media or journalism students, 'user-generated content' is simply a fancy term for social media or media generated by the individual rather than the masses. My dissertation project intends to uncover the role of UGC (still User-generated content, just abbreviated...) in shaping societal narratives and discourses (experiences and expectations) of menopause.
The idea for my research topic came from the increasing social media discourse and discussion on menopause, predominantly as a result of celebrity exposure (big thanks to Davina McCall). I thought it would be an incredibly relevant and important topic to explore, ignited by my passion for women's reproductive rights.
I considered several different avenues before selecting menopause as my key focus. These included online discussions on abortion and reproductive rights and the representation of women's reproductive health in relation to conditions such as PMDD or endometriosis. Though I would have loved to write about all of these topics, I had to be selective and specific, so thought that analysing discourses of menopause on social media platforms would be the way to go.
As a Media, Communication and Cultural Studies student, the scope of possible topics I could have chosen was endless. You can link literally anything to the media or culture in one way or another. Though this gave me incredible freedom when deciding on my dissertation topic, it certainly caused some anxiety and stress.
One thing I would emphasise to any current second years who may already be stressing about choosing a dissertation title is: DON'T. Whatever your initial title idea is when you submit your research proposal, it will likely change or evolve when you come to start your project!
Now that I'm in the second semester of my final year, I already have 2200 words of my dissertation under my belt. My Literature Review, though difficult and timely to construct, provided a good basis for my project, highlighting key theories, studies or texts that will be relevant to my research. Now that the Lit Review is done, with a few pending edits to be made, I'm at the crux of my Methodology and Research Analysis.
Though terms such as 'Literature Review', 'Methodology Chapter' or 'Research Analysis' might have sent shivers down my spine this time last year, I've found that I'm settling into my research project surprisingly well (do I dare say...I'm even enjoying it). I've already conducted a survey, which has provided some very interesting results and a crucial insight into people's perceptions and experiences of menopause. I also have plans to conduct focus group interviews with groups of women and menopause campaigners to gather their opinions.
I'm aware that there are likely many hours of hard work left of my dissertation- and no doubt blood, sweat and tears- but I'm also excited to see where my project goes and what conclusions I come to at the end. What was once a terrifying prospect is slowly becoming my main purpose at University, and an interesting exploration into an important topic that I'm passionate about.
If you want to help with my research, I would appreciate any responses to my 10-minute survey on 'UGC & Menopause': Microsoft Forms- UGC and Menopause Survey