Mothers with Multiple Sclerosis: Voice, Identity, and Empowerment [Paperback]

Courtney ODell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2008

This book examines the impact of chronic illness on the experiences of motherhood. The data for this examination derives from qualitative interviews with mothers with multiple sclerosis (MS). The interview questions for the qualitative research study focused on issues pertaining to the impact MS has had on chronically-ill women?s perceptions of mothering, identity, the body, and the medical establishment. This research contributes to scholarship on feminist analysis of mothering, identity, and health care. This work argues that despite facing barriers to empowerment met in essentialized views of motherhood, a social lack of knowledge about chronic illness, and hierarchical health-care models, mothers with multiple sclerosis empower themselves to care for their bodies, the needs of their families, and to incorporate the changes MS introduces to their lives in meaningful ways.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

B.A.: Studied History and Religion at Baylor University. M.A.: Women's Studies at Texas Woman's University. Currently working on an M.T.S. degree at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 88 pages
• Publisher: VDM Verlag (May 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3639011813
• ISBN-13: 978-3639011814
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,295,797 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible depiction of such an important yet unheard voice in society, June 26, 2008

By 

Christina Finch - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mothers with Multiple Sclerosis: Voice, Identity, and Empowerment (Paperback)

This book takes such an important step in the continual effort to break the traditional societal molds for both mothers and women in general by so eloquently depicting the stories of mothers that live their lives in the constant battle against a difficult illness.

The interviews and stories so poignantly describe the empowerment these women felt to understand their illness and its impact on their lives and the lives of their families, to consistently ensure that they minimize the effect this illness has on their personal and professional lives, to grapple with conforming to societal norms created for well-abled mothers and at the same time helping their children and others understand what it means to live with MS.

I was so moved at how these women testified to the narrow-minded social injustices and discrimination they face as they seek diagnosis and treatment and help with the medical decisions they must make that impact their children in our healthcare system and were often faced with life altering and health damaging decisions. This is clear evidence of what has happened in our society for far too long, where we as healthcare consumers have to fight for the type of care we should receive regardless of our race, gender or ability.

Being the child of a physically handicapped mother I believe it is absolutely important to ensure that the voices of these women and the understanding of what they go through and how they are impacted by society be heard and understood.