Women's experiences with HIV/AIDS : mending fractured selves / Desiree Ciambrone.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ciambrone, Desirʹee.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

AIDS (Disease) in women--Psychological aspects.

AIDS (Disease) in women.

AIDS (Disease) in women--Social aspects.

Physical Description:

xi, 213 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Haworth Press, [2003]

Contents:

Disruption and Legitimation: Hillary 1

Problematic Repair Strategies: Denise 4

Disruption and Nonrepair: Stephanie 6

HIV/AIDS As a Gender Issue 9

Analytic Framework: Biographical Disruption and HIV/AIDS 12

Sample and Methodology 14

Chapter 2. "Feeling Like Nothing": Receiving an HIV Diagnosis and Initial Disruption 21

Biographical Disruption Among Women with HIV/AIDS 21

Hopelessness 22

Disbelief 26

Social Withdrawal 31

Placing Blame 33

Putting Oneself Last 36

Assigning Meaning and Sense of Self 38

Women and Disruption 40

Chapter 3. Living with HIV Infection: The Impact of Illness on Everyday Life 43

Gender and the Psychosocial Impact of HIV Infection 43

Adaptive Tasks for Women with HIV/AIDS 44

The Perceived Significance of Gender 57

Women's Unique Experiences and Needs 61

Chapter 4. Toward Legitimation: Coping with HIV/AIDS 65

Coping with HIV/AIDS: A Brief Review of the Literature 65

Women's Ways of Coping: Repairing Disrupted Biographies 68

Going Public and Becoming an Activist 68

Support Groups 74

Spirituality 79

Establishing Positive Lifestyles 86

Avoidance 89

Legitimation and Sense of Self 92

Chapter 5. Social Support: The Role of Informal Networks in Women's Lives 95

Social Support and HIV/AIDS 96

Familial Support Networks 99

Problematic Support 113

Keeping the Secret: Untapped Support Networks and Self-Protection 119

Social Support and Illness Progression: Speculating on the Likelihood of Future Support 121

Chapter 6. Women As Carers: The Dual Challenge of Caregiving and Living with HIV Infection 127

Mothering 128

Planning for the Future: Child Care and Guardianship 135

Caring for Adults with HIV/AIDS 138

The Consequences of Caring 145

Chapter 7. Multiple Assaults on Self: The Relative Impact of HIV/AIDS on Women's Lives 149

"I'm Used to Being Ate Up Anyway" 150

"Nothing Compares to HIV" 161

The Relative Impact of Assaults 165

Chapter 8. Disruption and Repair: Lessons from Women's Illness Experiences 171

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Women's Coping 171

Formal Care and Women with HIV Infection 177

Empowerment and Social Change 179

Experiencing Illness: Extending HIV-Positive Women's Experiences to Other Populations 181.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-203) and index.

ISBN:

0789017571

078901758X

OCLC:

49874611