Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! [Paperback]

Rosalind Joffe (Author), Joan Friedlander (Author), L.G. Mansfield (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2008

When a woman receives a life-changing diagnosis of a serious, chronic illness, her first instinct may be to quit the workforce. This may bring a strong sense of relief initially, but as her disease becomes manageable, work is again desirable. Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease urges women so affected to stay employed in order to preserve their independence and sense of self. Filled with tips, tricks, and first-person accounts, this book is a resounding call for self-reliance and resilience. Authors Rosalind Joffe and Joan Friedlander identity the factors that make working particularly difficult for women with autoimmune disease, and then offer practical suggestions to address them. Exploring such issues as the complexities of autoimmune diseases and the correlation between disease, diagnosis, and career development, they detail exactly what it takes to be successful in a job, including developing strategies and tactics, evaluating communication skills, building a support team, and considerations for self-employment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The authors use first-person accounts to illustrate their advice on coping simultaneously with symptoms and the challenges of the workplace; developing a financial plan; communicating with coworkers, employers, and loved ones; building a support team; and balancing work and family responsibilities. A little book with lots of useful advice; recommended."
— Library Journal

"An essential resource and guide for women living with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis... The final chapter 'Developing Your Warrior Spirit: Hope and Resilience,' is a beautiful summation of the tone of the book. The authors include an excellent list of additional reading materials."
— InFocus (Autoimmune Diseases Association)

"...clear, down to earth and extraordinarily helpful."
— Diabetesmine.com

"For the chronically ill, the decision to continue working or not, can be an agonizing one. Optimistic, but realistic, Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease helps the reader carefully weigh the pros and cons of working so that they can make an informed and rational choice. Specific steps are offered to help you make accommodations that may allow you to stay in the workforce longer than you thought possible."
— Allison Shadday, author of MS and Your Feelings: Handling the Ups and Downs of Multiple Sclerosis

"Despite the relative slimness of Joffe and Friedlander's book, it is packed with useful information that can help women navigate the world of work...Writing about the unpredictability of AD, the stages of chronic illness and career development, they connect their experiences and those of other women in a way that I found reassuring and empowering. Whether you are happily employed, considering quitting your job, or drawing up plans to start your own business, Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease will prove a helpful guide for thinking through the options." -- Donna Rafanello, Assistant Professor of Child Development, Long Beach College, Long Beach, CA Momentum Magazine, Fall 2009

About the Author

Rosalind Joffe, MEd - Building on her experience living with chronic illnesses, including MS and ulcerative colitis, Rosalind Joffe founded the executive career coaching practice, cicoach. com, dedicated to help others with chronic illness develop the competencies they need to succeed. She is a recognized national expert on chronic illness in the workplace. As a leading executive career coach, she has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, ABC Radio, as well as a variety of regional and national media outlets. Rosalind has published in dozens of disease organization and health journals. She is a sought-after speaker and workshop leader for organizations that include the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, BiogenIdec, State Street Global, New Directions, Association of Career Professionals, HealthTalk. com, New England Arthritis Foundation, and the Scleroderma Association. Joan Friedlander founded Lifework Business Partners, a national coaching and training company, in 2000. Joan works with entrepreneurs in service businesses to develop strategies to move to the next phase of growth in business without losing sight of their personal needs. She was diagnosed with CrohnC Us disease in 1992, and with the exception of several short-term disability leaves, has successfully managed her career. In addition to coaching, Joan is a veteran facilitator of the Get Clients Now! marketing program, a paid speaker, and the author of two workbooks, The Master Calendar Solution and An Introductory Guide to Delegation. Joan has been quoted in Chronically Happy by Lori Hartwell and contributed to the second edition of Get Clients Now! by C. J. Hayden. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Demos Health; 1 edition (May 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932603689
• ISBN-13: 978-1932603682
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,929 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease, March 26, 2008

By 

Elise Cohen "LeesyLou" (Rockville, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! (Paperback)

This realistic look at the realities of chronic illness manages to be authoritative and comprehensive. In making their case that women with autoimmune diseases should continue their work and find ways to build their careers, they cite statistics, review research, and make reasoned arguments. I am particularly impressed at how the authors can be clear on the distinctions between their opinions and experiences, and facts.
In fact, the advice on finding balance; setting realistic goals; developing structure; communicating with supervisors, potential employers, and co-workers; acknowledging personal limitations without creating artificial limits; career building; and career planning are all valuable reading for anyone with any chronic health condition, whether the individual is male or female, whether the condition is autoimmune or not.
One shortcoming of the book, the only one I can cite, is that it deals almost exclusively with the college-educated white collar worker. The authors do assume the reader is fairly easy to employ, with marketable skills, some connections within the business world, and a good deal of resilience. I can accept that this allows the authors to focus on directing their advice and experience, but it must be acknowledged that this book is directed towards those who are concerned with continuing a career and those with choices rather than those looking for entry level work. They do encourage the use of a career counselor, who could assist anyone with or without a degree to identify their own skill sets and interests.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as Helpful as I Would Have Liked, April 8, 2008

By 

V. Conley (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! (Paperback)

I expected more in the way of coping skills and less in the way of trying to convince me to keep working despite illness.

I didn't need half of the book, which was essentially arguing that work is good for you. Most of us don't have the option to quit. I thought that point was moot. I wanted helpful advice.

I did get some comfort from the stories of other women's experiences. The discussions about taking the time you need so that you can do a better job left me feeling pretty vindicated (sometimes I feel a little guilty, and I liked the fact that this, too, was "normal." It seems as if that would be obvious, but it doesn't always feel that way).

I didn't like the fact that everyone mentioned apparently LOVES to work. In my opinion, work is neccesary so that you can do the things you WANT to do. It can be enjoyable, but it's not something I'd ever associate with the word "love." Ever.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Resource for Working Women, April 8, 2008

By 

L. Lynette Mejia (Lafayette, LA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Women, Work, and Autoimmune Disease: Keep Working, Girlfriend! (Paperback)

Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease, by Rosalind Joffe and Joan Friedlander, addresses an audience that would seem to be a niche until one comes upon the statistic that 20% of Americans live with chronic illnesses. This book gives women who live with the inconvenience and health issues related to these conditions a resource that is one part pep talk and three parts information and guidance.

Joffe and Friedlander cover everything from why it is important for women to keep their careers after being diagnosed to how to manage their time and care schedules with employment obligations. They write about the practical concerns of working despite illness as well as the emotional toll such a decision creates, and offer solutions for how to deal with both the good days and the bad. The information throughout is interspersed with numerous personal stories from both the authors and other women who have experienced the problems and triumphs of making the decision to continue working.

All in all, this book is informative, well-written, and an asset to any woman who finds herself in the position of learning to juggle health-issues with career obligations.