| Detraditionalisation, gender and alternative and complementary medicines. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 21251021 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
This article is premised on the importance of locating the appeal and meaning of alternative and complementary medicines in the context of gendered identities. I argue that the discourse of wellbeing - captured in many alternative and complementary health practices - is congruent with culturally prevalent ideals of self-fulfilling, authentic, unique and self-responsible subjectivity. The discourse of wellbeing places the self at the centre, thus providing a contrast with traditional ideas of other-directed and caring femininity. As such, involvement in alternative and complementary medicines is entwined with a negotiation of shifting femininities in detraditionalising societies. Simultaneously, many alternative and complementary health practices readily tap into and reproduce traditional representations of caring femininity. It is through an emphasis on emotional honesty and intimacy that the discourse of wellbeing also captures a challenge to traditional ideas of masculinity. Expectations and experiences relating to gender add a further level of complexity to the meaningfulness and therapeutic value of alternative and complementary medicines and underlie the gender difference in the utilisation of holistic health practices. I draw on data from a qualitative study with 44, primarily white, middle-class users and practitioners of varied alternative and complementary medicines in the UK. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Eeva Sointu |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-1-20 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Sociology of health & illness Volume: - ISSN: 1467-9566 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Jan |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2011-1-21 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 8205036 Medline TA: Sociol Health Illn Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
|
© 2011 The Author. Sociology of Health & Illness © 2011 Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness/Blackwell Publishing Ltd. |
Affiliation:
|
Department of Sociology, Smith College, Northampton MA, United States. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Distinct responses of the mitochondrial respiratory chain to long- and short-term high-light environ...
Next Document: Ventricular Fibrillation Following Successful DC Cardioversion for Atrial Fibrillation.