Appendix C

(Selma) Subject A (Lithuania):

1: Describe what the women's well-being means to you.

Being physically, emotionally and psychologically healthy.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

Physical well-being is most important to me.

3: Do you feel your definition of well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

Probably. Big part of my well-being, for example, is eating healthy, organic, whole foods which may not be so important to others.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

No, I do not think so.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

` When I am at home resting for example, not working at the hospital, I feel fortunate being well-healthy!

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

I feel that as I age, I feel kind of bad and negative at times.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you feel most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

I guess my upbringing has helped me. I have learned to stay positive and happy as much as possible.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

Perhaps. In my culture people do not go to the doctors as often as they should maybe. Living in the US now, I have learned to go to doctors more often, which is good. I guess some older people in particular, in my culture were and still are a bit speculative of hospitals etc.

When you have positive people around you such as my loving husband, our young, healthy daughter. Both of them have and do help me feel great and do contribute to my well-being. Also my sisters, brother, parents, they all play a vital role in my life.

(Selma) Subject B (Bosnia):

1: Describe what the women's well-being means to you.

Women’s well-being is being free to pursue whatever form of life she chooses without a fear of persecution. Well-being is being physically, mentally and emotionally healthy.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

Having all the basic physical needs met like food, clothing, shelter, security. After that, a woman can move up in the hierarchy of needs.

3: Do you feel your definition of well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

It probably is. It’s all relative. A woman in Iraq might think of security as her number 1 priority, while that may not be the case with someone in this nation.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

I feel that, in this country, women have a great chance to educate themselves and they choose not to use this opportunity. Such a chance is not available to a lot of women around the world. I do use this great opportunity.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

When I made the conscious decision to lose weight and become healthier.

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

I guess when I was in high school. I was emotionally and physically drained, I did not eat healthy, and I was stressed out and just unhealthy. I felt a lot of pressure while in high school, definitely more than in college now.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you feel most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

Not necessarily, I don’t think.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

Yes, the busy, competitive, pressure-filled culture in this country has made me feel low at times.

I think that I am surrounded by a lot of good, friendly, healthy people around me and that is very important for anyone seeking their ultimate well-being. I think that I have picked up some bad habits from my family such as not exercising on regular basis etc.

(Ri) Subject C (Japan):

1: Describe what the term women's well-being means to you.

Health, happiness, and opportunities.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

Health, because women tend to be relied on either by their children, parents, or husbands.

3: Do you feel your definition of women's well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

No. I think the women's well-being are the same. The differences will be what the most important factor is, how people look at the women's well-being, and where these aspects come from.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

None. All well-beings are given by people who care about me. The way I think about well-being might relate to my family who respects our ancestors and worships Buddha, as well as Japanese culture and collectivism.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

When I achieved a goal, I feel my well-being was most positive. Opportunity.

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

When things went wrong, when things were out of my control, my well-being was most negative. Timing (opportunity).

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you felt the most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

Family (happiness). Unconditionally, my family supports me. When any of my family is not happy (low happiness), I am not happy as well.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

Family (happiness).

9: How do your relationships play a role in your state of well-being? Can you relate an example of a time when a relationship has compromised your state of well-being? Can you illustrate a time when a relationship enhanced your well-being?

Health, happiness, and opportunities relate to my relationship. For example, when I feel supported by my boyfriend, I feel happy and more energetic. This positive feeling brings me more opportunities. It also motivates me to maintain my health and encourages me to go to the gym and eat right and so on.
On the other hand, when there is a miscommunication or misunderstanding in my relationship, it makes me sad. The sadness causes me to either gain appetite or lose appetite. As a result, I gain or lose weight. Gaining the weight increases my self-consciousness and losing weight makes my family and friends worry about my health. When I am sad, I cannot see outside of my world. Therefore, I miss some good opportunities.

(Ri) Subject D (United States):

1: Describe what the term women's well-being means to you.

To me, women's well-being is the aspect of being both emotionally and physically healthy from a feminine perspective, concerning issues common to most or all women.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

The issues I consider most important are gender equality (esp in the workplace), sexuality, health issues (the lack of research specializing in women), etc.

3: Do you feel your definition of women's well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

My explanation most likely does. Living in different cultures also implies a different political climate as well as value system, so different issues are only natural.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

I probably take the level of gender equality here in the States for granted. Even though there are still cases of gender inequality, women here are much more liberated than they would be in other cultures such as the Middle East and Asia. Up until a few years ago, women in some Middle Eastern countries couldn't even attend school and here I am in the US getting a college education.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

My well-being is usually highest when I feel like I've accomplished something, usually at major points in my life like graduating high school, etc. My emotional well-being is probably most influenced because I'm proud of myself for making it so far.

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

My well-being was probably most negative in high school. Adolescence is pretty well known for demolishing any sense of self-worth one might have, and you've got to spend all that time finding your place in society.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you felt the most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

As an Asian-American, I think a lot of things from both cultures supported me. American culture kind of supports a strong, individualistic attitude towards obstacles, while in Asian cultures, your family acts as a support net for all you do.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

Definitely because I developed the self-confidence to rely on my own judgment and abilities as well as the knowledge that my family will always be there for me.

I think that relationships help you to grow, despite good and bad. My dad passed away when I was young, and that really had an impact on me growing up. So, you could say the lack of a relationship can compromise one's well-being in the same way a bad relationship does. Relationships that enhance one's well being are usually with friends and family, just because their support is a positive influence. Even though high school was rough, having really good friends helped a lot. Conversely, ending a bad relationship also enhances one's well-being since you get rid of negative influences.

(Alicia) Subject E (United States):

1: Describe what the term women's well-being means to you.

Healthy state of mind and body.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

Mental health because women have an unbelievable amount of pressure and responsibility; many people depend on them (children, spouse etc.).

3: Do you feel your definition of women's well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

Possibly; a women from a country that does not respect women would most like view women’s well-being as freedom on something in the freedom family.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

I take my health for granted. I was raised to work hard and take care of my family. So, I put my family and my job before myself. I can’t think of another culture whereby a women puts herself and her health first.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

When I was nineteen; before I was married and had kids. I only had myself to take care of and I didn’t have any problems in life. I had a good job and my own apartment and had gotten off to a great start after high school. Eating right and exercising was important to me at that time.

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

When my husband was very ill for several years. I was under an extreme amount of pressure and was always stressed. It affected both my mental and physical health.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you felt the most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

Yes; being a member of an African American church helped a great deal. I was around people who were spiritually uplifting and very supportive.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

No, quite the opposite. Most in my culture didn’t want to see me do well and did nothing to support my mental or physical health.

Relationships play a significant role in my state of well-being. Positive relationships can enhance your state of well-being in a positive way. Negative relationships can affect both your mental and physical health in a negative way. I was married to an abusive husband, which totally affected my state of well-being. I was also married to a very wonderful and supportive man that encouraged me and made me want to look pretty, walk talk and share my love with others.

(Nadia) Subject F (United States):

1: Describe what the term women's well-being means to you.

Women’s well-being describes the overall care that women give to themselves. This includes both mental and physical health, the ability of a woman to care for herself daily, and how well women understand what’s going on with their bodies.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

I feel that mental and physical health are the most important factors that assist women in staying healthy. It is imperative that women stay physically fit to assist in keeping their body strong and to keep their immune system healthy. Mental health is also important because women are usually the strongholds for any type of relationship. These relationships include: mother and child, friendships, marital, and relationships that include women having to take on the emotional burdens of others.

3: Do you feel your definition of women's well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

No, no matter what culture you are from women are always the strongest person in the family. This doesn’t take away from men having the hardship of being family providers but women not only provide but they also show emotional support that men are unable to give. I think that this is consistent across the board although in other countries I do believe that they are not as willing to speak up for themselves, which may cause mental health issues.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

I believe that women in other countries are not as willing to speak up for themselves and say the things that bother them or that they feel are unjustified. We in America do have that ability due to the fights and struggles of our foremothers but the fight is not over.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

I feel most positive when I spend time and talk to other women. I think that brainstorming and throwing ideas off of one another keep me empowered and with a strong sense of well being.

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

I think being in a bad relationship at one point was my lowest time. Men in general can cause women to lose themselves but I think it’s important to stand strong and get out of things that cause you pain.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you felt the most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

Black women have always been considered to be strong women. I feel that being a black woman helped and contributed in many ways. I have seen women in my family be abused and stay with the abuser. The most important thing that I’ve seen is women that are strong and can do for themselves, women who don’t need men to survive, women who can take care of themselves and do it better than they did it when men were in their lives. Although I’ve seen women in abused relationships, they have proven that they are stronger than any blow a man could ever give.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

As I stated earlier I have seen many strong black women cross my path and one of the most important ones are my mother, grandmothers, aunts and Oprah Winfrey. These black women are great examples of strength and empowerment!!

I have stated these examples in previous questions. Men have compromised my state of well being and women of strength have enhanced my state of well-being.

(Nadia) Subject G (United States):

1: Describe what the term women's well-being means to you.

Basically, a woman’s well being means the actions that certain women take to make them happy. It’s what they live for, or what defines them. Many people have things or people that are their reason for living, and I think that women’s well being would fall under and category. I have two children, and their health and safety is my well being. I live to make sure that they are safe and healthy.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

Well, I think that what ever makes you happy and healthy are most important. Mental and physical health is a well being in any sex, because no one wants to be sick. I am most happy when I am feeling well and my family members are health as well. That gives us more time to be together and live longer and stronger lives.

3: Do you feel your definition of women's well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

Whatever culture to look at, the mother is the head for the house hold. Women keep everything together, sort of like the foundation. Women’s well being is universal, because we are a required element that could never be replaced. Nothing takes the place of a mother’s love or place in a child’s heart.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

I feel that we take for granted the freedom that we have as women. Women in other countries are more like prisoners. They have to wear certain types of clothing, cover their entire bodies, and some can not even leave their houses. Women are looked at as objects only. Objects put on the earth to be told what to do, and keep the house together.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

My well being was most positive when I gave birth to my first child. It was the most incredible experience and probably the most honorable thing that I as a woman will ever do. Giving birth is amazing and I was very happy to experience it twice.

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

I think my lowest moment of women well being was when my children became sick with the chicken pox. I felt so helpless, and like I said before their health means everything to me. Just know that there was nothing that I could do just killed me inside.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you felt the most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

Actually seeing my children get better was my support. And I think that the medicine had a lot to do with that. Just the facts that they recovered were support and comfort enough.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

Well, relationships really don’t place a role in my life because I live to take care of my children. I am a single parent mother, and my children come first in everything that I do. Relationships have never really enhanced my well being; in my case it has always made my well being worse. It’s just really not the right time in my life to include a man; I’m just really into raising my children in the right direction.

(Laidene) Subject H (United States):

1: Describe what the term women's well-being means to you.

Women’s well being means so many things to me: health of coarse is the number one thing most think of, like I. But, there are also the civil rights so many before us have fought for. I cherish their sacrifice and value my right to vote and make a stand. No other should make my choices for me or my daughter. Then there is finical well being; how can anyone be worry free when bills are waiting in the mailbox. I am not an over-the –top person; yet for years financial troubles came our way, prevented many simple pleasures. Now although we still remain on a budget, it’s nice to be able to enjoy the joy of being able to buy that special gift for a friend or family just because and not worry about what bill not to pay. But there is spiritual well-being; to give one inner peace and an oneness with God. And then family well-being is describe as my heart and soul; for when one of mine has fallen, my world does crumble (even though they might not know).

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

With all my heath problems, most would think I’d say health. Yet, that is not my answer. Family well-being is the most important aspect of well-being for me. For each of my family members and extended family truly holds my heart. Without them, it would destroy a part of me. Losing my brother to a drunk driver; I still feel the emptiness within my soul.

3: Do you feel your definition of women's well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

I feel my definition differs from woman from all cultures. I’m an individual and my life experiences are what make my answers unique. Culture really has nothing to do with it.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

If I’m honest, I have taken for granted all of them in my life; yet with age I am trying to get better. Health: I do not eat as well as I should sometimes. Civil Rights: I have missed a local vote. Financial: Of course I have overspent…I am a woman. Spiritual: I’ve questioned my faith and felt loss before. Family: I have avoided talking to certain family members by screening calls.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

Family was the influence at the time: The birth of my children!!!

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

Health was the influence: I’ve had over a dozen breast surgeries and when I was pregnant with my last child my right breast became a nightmare. I was even advised at one point that I might have to abort. (I left that doctor!) I could not take any medication while I was pregnant; so 3 months after my child’s birth I lost my right nipple.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you felt the most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

Just the freedom I have; being born in the United States.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

I have to answer the same.

My relationships play a major role in my well-being. When my husband and I have been not on the same wave length. We’ve had some awful fights and questioned our love. It has left me feeling despondent and scared. It has even effected my health. As I approach our 25^th year of marriage we are on a high. It’s like young love; only better. Like a fine wine…aged better with time!!!

(Alicia) Subject I (Panama):

1: Describe what the term women's well-being means to you.

To me well-being is a state of balance of spiritual, personal, and physical health.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

They are all important because women are the support for just about everyone

else in their lives, but to be able to be a good support, women should be in healthy themselves in all aspects (spiritually, personally, and physically)

3: Do you feel your definition of women's well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

It could since we are all brought up differently and under different circumstances.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

I think I like most women take my health for granted. When people rely on you to do something it had to be done, whether your sick or not. I think regardless of the culture women in general could have a similar idea as mine, because we are women, we are mothers, daughters, and wives and all these come with people who rely on us.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

I am still young and am probably experiencing my highest level of well-being. I am working, going to school, and living my life.

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

When I was about 18, I was going through a lot of things and it was causing me to decrease spiritually and all these things were also having a negative mental and emotional effect on me as well.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you felt the most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

Yes; my culture is very family oriented and my family is was always there to help and support me especially my mother.

8: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

Yes; since family is important in my culture the way I was raised has helped me greatly. I was to be open-minded and to push forward no matter what, I also had a moral, spiritual and value system set in place, which is what still helps today to be where I am.

9. How do your relationships play a role in your state of well-being? Can you relate an example of a time when a relationship has compromised your state of well-being? Can you illustrate a time when a relationship enhanced your well-being?

Relationships are important in all aspects of life, good relationships help your state of well-being, while bad ones can deteriorate your well-being. Well a few years back I was not having a good relationship with my father which affected me greatly because I was use to always having a great relationship with him and when things changed, my emotional well-being was bad. Though at the same time my relationship with my mother was there to support and help me and definitely helped my well-being to what it is today.

(Laidene) Subject J (United States):

1: Describe what the term women's well-being means to you.

The shortest description of women’s well being would be the amount of control a woman is free to exercise over her own life. An example of a poor case of women’s well being would be a woman who lives in any situation where her life is controlled by the males in her family - like her father and brother - in cases of who she would marry, her education, and - in extreme cases - who she associates with. A more common but less often considered example of poor women’s well being is the role of the conservative American woman whose life is still controlled by outside forces like her parents and her religious beliefs. Then her life becomes dominated by her husband, and then eventually her children.

2: What factors of women's well-being do you feel are most important and why?

Reproductive rights; because as long as any man on the face of the planet can knock down your door and impregnate you without your consent, women are placed in a situation of potential reproductive slavery. Access to sex education and birth control and gynecological examinations are the most basic building blocks of reproductive freedom. Educational access and equal access to higher education ties in with reproductive freedom. When women aren’t free to choose to become mothers, they aren’t free to choose to become doctors and lawyers also.

3: Do you feel your definition of women's well-being differs from the definition of women from a different culture? Explain.

Yeah, I think my definition of well being could be seen as a very liberal, feminist world view. I think a member of a more conservative, traditionalist world view would consider a women’s well being to be how well her husband treated her. Sexual well being is a part of well being.

4: Are there any aspects of well-being that you feel you take for granted? Illustrate this with a personal example relating your aspect to another culture.

I think most basically I take for granted the fact that I’m not owned by my father. I think I’m so American that I'm absolutely convinced of the autonomous nature of children as individuals and human beings. I always took it for granted that the things Social Services rescued me from were universally wrong and I realized that in another country I would have been the property of my father and he would have been free to do exactly as he pleased.

5: When do you feel that your well-being was most positive/highest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

If I consider my entire life, now my well being is probably at its highest. I think the pending adoption is a definite shift in my emotional well being. I’m taking better care of my physical health by eating better and taking vitamins… taking the stairs more; just being more active. I’m in school pursuing what I love. I’m in control of my own life. Ultimately, I don’t have to answer to anyone but me… and my cat. J

6: When do you think your well-being was most negative/lowest? Which aspect do you feel was most influenced during this time?

I think probably my well being was at its lowest when I was homeless. Of course my emotional well being was slow, and my physical well being was low. I didn’t have any healthcare, or access to food, and I lived like an alcoholic.

7: Are there aspects of your culture that you feel supported you when you felt the most negative? Are there aspects of your culture that contributed to this state of well-being?

Ummm… no. And for the second part, umm… yeah. I was homeless in America where your identity is rooted in your credit cards and your sports car.

8. Are there aspects of your culture that you feel contributed to the time you felt your well-being was the highest?

The Pell Grant. Public education. Going back to college rescued me from being homeless. Obviously homeless people can not pay for tuition.

I think I’m very lucky to be at a point in my life right now where my relationships affect my well being in a positive manner. I think that the woman I now call my mother has been incredibly supportive of my education. She buys me health insurance, she’s paid for my car insurance and groceries and a dozen other things when I’ve called and asked for help. I think my mother now is a strong contrast to my birth mother who has always negatively impacted my well being. She is actually the reason why I wound up homeless.