scholarly journals Couples Coping with Prostate Cancer: Women and Men (Re)Negotiating Discourse of Gender, Sexuality and Intimate Relationships

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brown-Bowers Amy
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Sexual Rehabilitation ◽  
Medical Issues ◽  
Sexual Side Effects ◽  
Penile Rehabilitation

This dissertation project investigates the ways in which men and their female partners navigate discourses of sex, gender, and relationships as they cope with recovery from prostate cancer and engage in penile/sexual rehabilitation. Study I involves a discourse analysis of online patient information sources for prostate cancer-related penile/sexual rehabilitation with a focus on how sex, erections, gender, patients, and relationships are depicted. Study II involves discourse analysis of in-depth interviews with prostate cancer survivors, female partners of men with prostate cancer, and couples, to explore the social norms and collective meanings they adopt when speaking about sex, their identity as a man/woman, recovery, and relationships. Analyses also explore discursive points of connection and discordance between the two studies. Penile rehabilitation is positioned in both studies as a medical imperative through close alignment with scientific empiricism. Sexual side effects (e.g., changes in erections) are framed in biomedical and mechanical terms, and penile rehabilitation is presented as a scientific and effective solution. Both Study I and Study II convey that one’s health and recovery are largely individual responsibilities. Ideal patients are framed as entrepreneurial, responsible, and informed in Study I, and Study II participants largely adopt these discourses. Online information sources situate sexuality within the realm of health and medicine so that changes in erections are positioned as medical issues best resolved using the expertise of medical specialists. The findings from Study II, however, challenge a purely biomedical or health-focused approach to erections. Many patients emphasize the relational and psychological aspects of sex and the inability of pro-erectile interventions to adequately address the injuries caused by prostate cancer treatment. Online materials from Study I reinforce narrowly defined views of masculinity/femininity and (hetero)sexuality. Masculinity and femininity are framed as complementary and distinct opposites, and intercourse is positioned as an essential sexual practice. Many participants frame prostate cancer as a major disruption to successful gender performance and to the sexual status quo. A number of participants resist medicalized/healthisized discourses of sex, and hegemonic masculine subjectivities. They espouse alternative definitions of what it means to be a lover and man/woman. Implications and recommendations are discussed.

scholarly journals Couples Coping with Prostate Cancer: Women and Men (Re)Negotiating Discourse of Gender, Sexuality and Intimate Relationships

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brown-Bowers Amy
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Sexual Rehabilitation ◽  
Medical Issues ◽  
Sexual Side Effects ◽  
Penile Rehabilitation

This dissertation project investigates the ways in which men and their female partners navigate discourses of sex, gender, and relationships as they cope with recovery from prostate cancer and engage in penile/sexual rehabilitation. Study I involves a discourse analysis of online patient information sources for prostate cancer-related penile/sexual rehabilitation with a focus on how sex, erections, gender, patients, and relationships are depicted. Study II involves discourse analysis of in-depth interviews with prostate cancer survivors, female partners of men with prostate cancer, and couples, to explore the social norms and collective meanings they adopt when speaking about sex, their identity as a man/woman, recovery, and relationships. Analyses also explore discursive points of connection and discordance between the two studies. Penile rehabilitation is positioned in both studies as a medical imperative through close alignment with scientific empiricism. Sexual side effects (e.g., changes in erections) are framed in biomedical and mechanical terms, and penile rehabilitation is presented as a scientific and effective solution. Both Study I and Study II convey that one’s health and recovery are largely individual responsibilities. Ideal patients are framed as entrepreneurial, responsible, and informed in Study I, and Study II participants largely adopt these discourses. Online information sources situate sexuality within the realm of health and medicine so that changes in erections are positioned as medical issues best resolved using the expertise of medical specialists. The findings from Study II, however, challenge a purely biomedical or health-focused approach to erections. Many patients emphasize the relational and psychological aspects of sex and the inability of pro-erectile interventions to adequately address the injuries caused by prostate cancer treatment. Online materials from Study I reinforce narrowly defined views of masculinity/femininity and (hetero)sexuality. Masculinity and femininity are framed as complementary and distinct opposites, and intercourse is positioned as an essential sexual practice. Many participants frame prostate cancer as a major disruption to successful gender performance and to the sexual status quo. A number of participants resist medicalized/healthisized discourses of sex, and hegemonic masculine subjectivities. They espouse alternative definitions of what it means to be a lover and man/woman. Implications and recommendations are discussed.

scholarly journals Female partner experiences of prostate cancer patients’ engagement with a community-based football intervention: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Midtgaard ◽  
Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen ◽  
Mette Rørth ◽  
Malene Kronborg ◽  
Eik D. Bjerre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Exercise Adherence ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
New Beginning ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Football Programs

Abstract Background Prostate cancer is often labelled a couple’s disease wherein the partner plays an important role in the man’s illness management and related health promotion activities. The aim of this study was to explore partner experiences of prostate cancer patients’ engagement with a community-based football program. Methods Eight audio-visual recorded semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 39 female partners of men with prostate cancer who participated in a community-based football program as part of the nationwide FC Prostate Community Trial (NCT02430792). Data was managed with the software program Nvivo 11 and analysed inductively to derive thematic findings. Results The four thematic findings were: 1) ‘Hope of a new beginning’ which included stories of hope that football would mitigate the negative effects of men’s prostate cancer treatment [s]; 2) ‘My new partner’ was characterized by attributing connections between physical activity and elevated mood as a by-product of men’s involvement in the program; 3) ‘Football first’ included assertions of the couples mutual commitment to the football program; and 4) ‘Invisible needs’ contrasted insecurity, and unforeseen challenges for partners feeling somewhat neglected. Overall, the results confirm the need for cohesion and flexibility amongst couple-dyads to ensure partners and men with prostate cancer benefit from their involvement in football programs. Conclusions This study indicates that partners of prostate cancer survivors’ engaging with community-based football align to idealized gender relations, roles and identities. In many instances, these gendered dimensions aided positive dyadic coping and long-term exercise adherence.

scholarly journals Female partner experiences of prostate cancer patients’ engagement with a community-based football intervention: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Midtgaard ◽  
Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen ◽  
Mette Rørth ◽  
Malene Kronborg ◽  
Eik D. Bjerre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Exercise Adherence ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
New Beginning ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Football Programs

Abstract Background Prostate cancer is often labelled a couple’s disease wherein the partner plays an important role in the man’s illness management and related health promotion activities. The aim of this study was to explore partner experiences of prostate cancer patients’ engagement with a community-based football program. Methods Eight audio-visual recorded semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 39 female partners of men with prostate cancer who participated in a community-based football program as part of the nationwide FC Prostate Community Trial (NCT02430792). Data was managed with the software program Nvivo 11 and analysed inductively to derive thematic findings. Results The four thematic findings were: 1) ‘Hope of a new beginning’ which included stories of hope that football would mitigate the negative effects of men’s prostate cancer treatment[s]; 2) ‘My new partner’ was characterized by attributing connections between physical activity and elevated mood as a by-product of men’s involvement in the program; 3) ‘Football first’ included assertions of the couples mutual commitment to the football program; and 4) ‘Invisible needs’ contrasted insecurity, and unforeseen challenges for partners feeling somewhat neglected. Overall, the results confirm the need for cohesion and flexibility amongst couple-dyads to ensure partners and men with prostate cancer benefit from their involvement in football programs. Conclusions This study indicates that prostate cancer survivors’ engagement with community-based football are intricately connected to gender relations, roles and identities. In many instances, these gendered dimensions aided positive dyadic coping and long-term exercise adherence.

scholarly journals Experiences of female partners of prostate cancer survivors: A systematic review and thematic synthesis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Green ◽  
Natalie Winter ◽  
Michelle DiGiacomo ◽  
John L. Oliffe ◽  
Nicholas Ralph ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽  
Thematic Synthesis ◽  
Female Partners

scholarly journals Female Partner Experiences of Prostate Cancer Patients’ Engagement With A Community-Based Football Intervention: A Qualitative Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Midtgaard ◽  
Tine Tjørnhøj-Thomsen ◽  
Mette Rørth ◽  
Malene Kronborg ◽  
Eik Dybboe Bjerre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Exercise Adherence ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Prostate Cancer Survivors ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
New Beginning ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Football Programs

Abstract BackgroundProstate cancer is often labelled a couple’s disease wherein the partner plays an important role in the man’s illness management and related health promotion activities. The aim of this study was to explore partner experiences of prostate cancer patients’ engagement with a community-based football program. MethodsEight audio-visual recorded semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 39 female partners of men with prostate cancer who participated in a community-based football program as part of the nationwide FC Prostate Community Trial (NCT02430792). Data was managed with the software program Nvivo 11 and analysed inductively to derive thematic findings. ResultsThe four thematic findings were: 1) ‘Hope of a new beginning’ which included stories of hope that football would mitigate the negative effects of men’s prostate cancer treatment[s]; 2) ‘My new partner’ was characterized by attributing connections between physical activity and elevated mood as a by-product of men’s involvement in the program; 3) ‘Football first’ included assertions of the couples mutual commitment to the football program; and 4) ‘Invisible needs’ contrasted insecurity, and unforeseen challenges for partners feeling somewhat neglected. Overall, the results confirm the need for cohesion and flexibility amongst couple-dyads to ensure partners and men with prostate cancer benefit from their involvement in football programs.ConclusionsThis study indicates that prostate cancer survivors’ engagement with community-based football are intricately connected to gender relations, roles and identities. In many instances, these gendered dimensions aided positive dyadic coping and long-term exercise adherence.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document