Gender and nursing in Portugal: The focus on men's double status of dominant and dominated1

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-172
Author(s):  
Maria Helena Santos ◽  
Lígia Amâncio

Abstract This article presents a study that sought to identify the gender dynamics prevailing in a health-related context of tokenism ‐ nursing ‐ in which the members of a dominant group in society ‐ men ‐ are proportionally scarce. Specifically, this study aimed to consider how men experience their integration into a feminized profession. Furthermore, the individual experiences and professional dynamics were placed in perspective with the results of other studies focusing on male populations in high-status professions, in particular medicine, to analyse the intersectionality of status and power. This study involved individual, semi-structured interviews with twelve male nurses, aged between 40 and 58 years, from across the six existing nursing specialties in Portugal. Analysis of the results, obtained through the Alceste software and thematic study carried out according to the social constructionist perspective in gender studies, indicates that tokenism dynamics interweave a double power asymmetry: the professional asymmetry between male doctors and male nurses, and the gender symbolic asymmetry between men and women. In the nursing profession, this double asymmetry proves beneficial to male nurses.

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Andrea Arango-Bernal

Objetivo: analizar los significados que construyen las madres de personas en condición de hemofilia, sobre ser portadoras de la enfermedad. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio cualitativo con enfoque del interaccionismo simbólico que, a través de una etnografía particularista y el uso de entrevistas semiestructuradas, observaciones y revisión documental, rescató el punto de vista de 17 madres pertenecientes a la Liga Antioqueña de Hemofílicos que participaron de manera voluntaria y residen en diferentes municipios del departamento de Antioquia. Resultados: Las participantes se reconocen a sí mismas como seres potenciales, es decir, no sólo como trasmisoras o cuidadoras de la enfermedad de sus hijos, sino como sujetos cognoscentes de su realidad dispuestas a reflexionar sobre sus aprendizajes e incorporarlos a favor de la relación consigo mismas y con los demás. Los significados más relevantes son: empezar a vivir con hemofilia, asumir la enfermedad, la familia, el cuidado y la crianza, la relación con los servicios de salud, caminando con algo que no se puede desprender y darse cuenta. Conclusiones: La salud colectiva es la posibilidad de tener un acercamiento más comprensivo al proceso salud – enfermedad – atención de los colectivos humanos, tomando en cuenta las condiciones económicas, sociales y culturales en las que estos se inscriben. La pregunta por los significados de estas madres develó el tejido de lo individual y lo colectivo, como un asunto que trasciende el plano biológico de la enfermedad y da cuenta de la construcción social en la que confluyen prácticas, saberes, imaginarios y sentimientos.Palabras Clave: Cuidadores, enfermedad crónica, hemofilia A, madresSignifi cance of being a hemophilia carrierAbstractObjective: Analyzing the meanings that mothers of people with hemophilia, build about being carriers of the disease. Materials and methods: Study based on the qualitative method supported by the approach of symbolic interaction, which through a particularistic ethnography, and the use of semi-structured interviews, observations and document review, rescued the point of view of 17 mothers belonging to the Liga Antioqueña de Hemofílicos. They participated voluntarily and reside in different municipalities of Antioquia. Results: The participants recognize themselves as potential beings, that is, not only as disseminators or carers of the illness of their children, but as cognocentes subject of their reality willing to reflect on their learning and incorporate them in favor of the relationship with herself and others. The most important meanings are: start living with hemophilia, assuming the disease, the family, the care and upbringing, relationships with health services, walking with something that can not be detached and realize. Conclusions: Collective health is the ability to have a more comprehensive approach to process health - disease - care of human groups, taking into account the economic, social and cultural conditions in which they are registered. The question of the meaning of these mothers, unveiled the tissue of the individual and the collective, as a matter that transcends the biological level of the disease and accounts for the social construction that blends practices, knowledge, imaginary and feelings.Key Words: Hemophilia A, chronic disease, mothers, caregivers. Significado de ser portadora de hemofiliaResumo                                   Objetivo: Analisar os significados construídos pelas mães de pessoas com hemofilia, sobre ser portadores da doença. Materiais e Métodos: Estudo qualitativo com foco no interacionismo simbólico, que, através de uma etnografia individualista e o uso de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, observações e revisão documental, resgatou o ponto de vista de 17 mães pertencentes à Liga Antioquia de Hemófilos que participaram voluntariamente e residem em diferentes municípios do departamento de Antioquia. Resultados: Os participantes se reconhecem como seres potenciais, ou seja, não apenas como transmissores ou cuidadores da doença de seus filhos, mas como sujeitos cognitivos de sua realidade que estão dispostos a refletir sobre sua aprendizagem e a incorporá-los em favor do relacionamento com eles mesmos e com os outros. Os significados mais relevantes são: começar a viver com hemofilia, assumir a doença, família, cuidados e educação, relacionar-se com os serviços de saúde, caminhar com algo que você não pode separar e perceber. Conclusões: A saúde coletiva é a possibilidade de ter uma abordagem mais abrangente para o processo saúde-doença-cuidado de grupos humanos, levando em consideração as condições econômicas, sociais e culturais nas quais estão registradas. A questão dos significados dessas mães revela o tecido do indivíduo e o coletivo como um problema que transcende o plano biológico da doença e explica a construção social em que as práticas, o conhecimento, o imaginário e os sentimentos convergem.Palavras-Chave: Cuidadores, doenças crônicas, hemofilia A, mães  


1978 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 487-490
Author(s):  
Marcia D. Horne ◽  
Constance J. Seidner ◽  
Stefan J. Harasymiw

This study examined the mediating effects of peer status on the relationship between Intellectual Achievement Responsibility and the academic performance of 79 sixth grade students in an open-space school. When peer status was specified, a negative association was noted between achievement responsibility and academic ability for students of high status, but a positive one for students of low status. No association between achievement responsibility and ability was observed for students with medium peer status. Operation of internal achievement motivation may be influenced by the social psychological environment of the individual.


2011 ◽  
pp. 2768-2787 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel McLean ◽  
Nigel M. Blackie

This chapter constructs the concept of e-commerce as knowledge management. The socially constructed approach to knowledge management is adopted. Through qualitative research, rooted in the Social Constructionist-Critical Theory paradigm, the chapter examines how consumers use the Internet in commercially related activity. Through semi-structured interviews with consumers three main themes are identified and explored (interaction with commercial organizations, consumer-to-consumer interaction, power and control in business-to-consumer interaction). The chapter concludes that the Internet facilitates the construction and sharing of knowledge amongst consumers, but appears to strengthen barriers and boundaries between consumers and companies. An illustration of how companies could effectively utilize the Internet to communicate with customers is offered in an analysis of a discussion forum.


1989 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Marlies Ott

Difficulties faced by women in work organizations are often explained as indirect consequences of their numerical minority. Their sex plays no role in these explanations: Men in a minority position are claimed to experience similar problems. The results of this empirical study challenge this: Policewomen are seen to face many of the disadvantages pointed out by Kanter (1977) and others, whereas male nurses enjoy advantages from being one of the few among female colleagues. Also, while the male majority in police teams do indeed resist women when their number reaches a critical mass, the female majority in the nursing teams do not show a similar resistance to men. The study involved 50 police teams and 49 nursing teams of approximately 15 members each. Comparisons were made only within each occupation, between skewed and tilted settings. Data were gathered by means of 297 semi-structured interviews. The opposite effects on men and women of being in a minority are attributed to a difference in status.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 655-670
Author(s):  
Anette Lykke Hindhede

There has been a tremendous rise in media coverage and medical research on the rapid increase of so-called non-communicable diseases. Such diseases have apparently reached epidemic proportions worldwide. In this article, I argue for the fruitfulness of investigating the communicable aspect of non-communicable diseases from a distinct sociological view of non-communicable diseases as infectious. I conduct a historical anamnesis of sociological theories that inform contemporary sociological thinking about contagion and/or collective action and the social clustering of (health) behaviour, with a particular focus on the notions of imitation, suggestion, and habitus formation. I argue that the notion of contagion is not only about biology but also about being actualised by lifestyle diseases. Based on the seminal work of Philip Strong on epidemic psychology, I discuss how – in dealing with the present threat to public order – a societal reaction in terms of a profound sense of public alarm and the generation of an outbreak of control strategies has emerged as another powerful epidemic or moral panic challenged by how to isolate the source of ‘infection’. The article concludes by asserting that there still very much remains a divide between the paradigms of the individual and the social in the production of scientific knowledge about these diseases and causality. Considering health-related risk behaviour as a socially organised rather than an individual phenomenon provides more useful data for public health interventions aimed at changing health lifestyles.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Grebe ◽  
M Voß ◽  
L Heitland ◽  
S Nadolny ◽  
ÄD Latteck

Abstract Background Inclusive research aims to involve people with intellectual disabilities (ID) with their views and values in all steps of the research process. But there is a lack of published training programs that address the qualification of people with ID for their roles as co-researchers. Objectives The aim was to develop a training program, based on constructivist didactics, in order to empower people with ID to act as initiators of health-related research, interviewers, data analysts and authors. In addition, the program aims to promote social self-organization and health literacy. The program consists of four steps: 1) Recruiting, relationship and team building; 2) Analysis of communication skills; 3) Choice of topic and formulation of a research question relevant to the lifeworld of the co- researchers 4) Exercises, carried out with an open, flexible approach, taking into account the individual biographies, knowledge, skills and interests of the team. Professional researchers moderate this process and promote the activation of knowledge and experiences. The whole process comprised weekly team meetings over a period of 7 months. Results The co-researchers were successfully empowered to deal with new kinds of demands and tasks. As of March 2020, the co- researchers selected pain as their topic and successfully formulated research questions, developed a guideline for semi-structured interviews and acquired essential interviewing skills. Data collection and analysis are still pending. Conclusions The implemented inclusive research approach pursued here, offers opportunities for generating research findings that are more relevant for the target group and their lifeworld. Consequently, professionals can better address the needs of their clients and develop tailored interventions. For the involved co-researchers with ID the training program seems to be successful in empowering them in decision-making and in reflecting on their own and other's health-related needs. Key messages People with intellectual disabilities can successfully be qualified as co-researchers with a 7-months weekly training program. The training program helps the co-researchers in reflecting on their own and other’s health-related needs.


Author(s):  
Juan Hernández ◽  
Wilson Jiménez-Barbosa ◽  
Johanna Acuña

The current article shows the development of a research process whose main objective was to explain the influence of the social representations of the inhabitants of Bogotá, Colombia in the implementation of the public policy of conditional cash transfers “Más Familias en Acción.” For this aim, a qualitative study of hermeneutic design was conducted with beneficiaries of the program and non-beneficiaries, in which, through the application of semi-structured interviews, the most frequent social representations about subsidies, policies, work, education, health, among other relevant issues related to this public policy were identified and once the information was coded by using the Atlas.ti software, interpretation of results was done making possible to establish a relationship between the social representations found and the implementation of “Más Familias en Acción,” leading to the understanding of how social representations as sets of ideas, values and practices that become a social code that denominates the individual and collective reality, have influence both in the way in which the beneficiaries of the program conceive their social reality, and in the sense they give to the program, as well as in their articulation and interaction with it, enabling its implementation, which may or may not occur according to the objectives of public policy.


2011 ◽  
pp. 1618-1637
Author(s):  
Rachel McLean ◽  
Nigel M. Blackie

This chapter constructs the concept of e-commerce as knowledge management. The socially constructed approach to knowledge management is adopted. Through qualitative research, rooted in the Social Constructionist-Critical Theory paradigm, the chapter examines how consumers use the Internet in commercially related activity. Through semi-structured interviews with consumers three main themes are identified and explored (interaction with commercial organizations, consumer-to-consumer interaction, power and control in business-to-consumer interaction). The chapter concludes that the Internet facilitates the construction and sharing of knowledge amongst consumers, but appears to strengthen barriers and boundaries between consumers and companies. An illustration of how companies could effectively utilize the Internet to communicate with customers is offered in an analysis of a discussion forum.


Rev Rene ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 863
Author(s):  
Raquel Santos Monte ◽  
Maria Lúcia Duarte Pereira

Objective: to identify the social representations of leprosy among its carriers. Methods: qualitative study based on the Theory of Social Representations, conducted with 40 subjects with leprosy, divided into two groups (male and female). Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and free observation, submitted to thematic content analysis. Two categories were formulated. Results: it was found different aspects between men and women. Women highlighted issues related to the domestic sphere, care with family and body image; men signaled changes in routine and adaptation to the new condition. Conclusion: the health and especially the nursing model, must seek to understand the daily life of being a leprosy carrier, learning to deal with the differences in each individual, using educational activities that advance toward comprehensive care to the human being.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-171
Author(s):  
Marta Čubajevaitė

Abstract New social movements in South Africa could play a prominent role in mobilizing the communities to reflect critically and address the repercussions of the neo-liberal agenda which manifests itself in perpetual exclusion of under-educated adults and provision of poor quality education. Few studies especially from the perspective of the activists leave a potential research area of a very interesting phenomenon of how people learn while struggling for social justice. Therefore this article based on a single multi-site case study on a social movement cohering around literacy issues in Gauteng, South Africa, aims at answering, what forms of learning and education the social movement encompassed, how did the group conscientization occur and what are the individual transformations. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion were held with 13 learnersactivists and 2 adult educators. By applying Mezirow’s individual transformation and Freirean group conscientization models the analysis of primary and secondary data, revealed that the engagement in the social movement challenged and changed learnersactivists’ understanding of educational status within their respective communities. This in turn led to transformative action addressing the problems identified. On the individual level, some learners-activists became more tolerant and willing to cooperate with those of different political ideologies, able to tap into community resources. Finally, the potential of social movements as adult learning environments are outlined.


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