This research examines women's ways of understanding health and illness as well as their
means of maintaining wellness. It attempts a women-centred approach to explaining health
behaviours. The research consisted of in-depth interviews with seven women from
Southern Ontario between the ages of 50 and 70. A grounded theory approach guided the
analysis. The study shows that perceptions of power and control may be at the root of
many attitudes toward health care and various health behaviours. By researching health
issues from women's perspectives, this research provides a glimpse of the way these seven
women experience midlife, and suggests the existance of perspectives that differ from
mainstream views on health and illness. It further demonstrates how theories of agency
can be used to shift the focus of sociological research from over-socialized accounts of
health-related behaviours to more empowering, woman-centred explanations. It shows that
women strive to maintain control of their health and that they pursue wellness in a manner
that enables them to keep that control. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/23778 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | Landon, Sally |
| Contributors | Walters, V., Sociology |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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