Miscarriages and stillbirths affect many people. Yet they are rarely discussed. It was precisely this social taboo that Laura Knop addressed in her Master’s thesis as part of her Media Design degree at the Ostfalia Campus in Salzgitter. The 25-year-old was awarded the Ostfalia Media Prize for her work.
“Ever since my Bachelor’s thesis, I haven’t been able to get this topic out of my head,” says Laura. It was then that she met a therapist who supports women following miscarriages and stillbirths. “She described to me just how many prejudices still exist and how vast the gaps in knowledge are within society. That really got me thinking.”
Conversations with those affected
For her Master’s thesis, Laura conducted numerous interviews with those affected, midwives and social workers. Finding people to talk to was difficult at first. Through the organisation “Leere Wiege” in Hanover, she eventually found women who were willing to share their experiences.
“Many were incredibly grateful that anyone was addressing the issue at all,” says Laura. The conversations were often emotional, but they also showed her just how great the need for education and dialogue is.
Communication design to challenge social taboos
In the theoretical part of her thesis, she examined how communication campaigns can help break down social taboos. In the practical part, she developed a comprehensive campaign featuring posters, social media posts, city cards and a website prototype.
It was particularly important to her to highlight the perspective of those affected. “Many women told me that they had to put up with comments such as: ‘You’re still young’ or ‘It wasn’t a proper baby yet’,” she reports. “Often, such comments aren’t meant maliciously, but they can be very hurtful.” She points out that it’s not always necessary to find the right words – simply being willing to listen can be a much greater source of support.
The posters therefore focus on real statements taken from the interviews. These are supplemented by recommendations for action for relatives and those close to the woman, as well as information on the medical background.
Award-winning work with an impact
Laura was surprised that her Master’s thesis was awarded the media prize: “I wouldn’t have thought that such a difficult social issue would attract so much attention.” She is all the more delighted that she has already received enquiries from organisations in the region wishing to exhibit parts of her campaign. In this way, her thesis can help to further break down the social taboo surrounding this issue.