Previous research on healing in Ireland has primarily been the concern of folklorists. Based on interviews with a variety of healers, this thesis broadens our understanding of healing in Ireland by considering the socio-political context within which healing beliefs and practices occur. Theory from the anthropology of the body and the critical interpretive approach within medical anthropology provide means for exploring how the body is used as a symbol to express anxiety about social change in Ireland and how individual bodies are socialized and regulated within an economy of power. Prevailing views of the correct "Irish body" are shown to be important elements of Irish identity, especially vis-a-vis the outside world. By drawing attention to the significance of key themes of healing within contemporary Irish society, this thesis suggests that "Irishness" is inscribed in the body in healing.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.55411 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Gray, Teresa |
| Contributors | Aronson, Dan R. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Arts (Department of Anthropology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001447934, proquestno: AAIMM05515, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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