Identity, health and women : a critical social psychological perspective

This book provides a three-part investigation into identity construction. Theory, voice and praxis are all represented as the book follows the rationale, stories and narrative methodology of the study of a group of women. The final part of the book presents a new model of identity construction framed in women's health identity. This book explores the construction of a health identity from the standpoint of women's everyday experiences. It examines personal, interpersonal and societal aspects of construction to reveal an evolving identity that moves away from the often fixed stereotypical models of medical illness towards an axis of illness and wellbeing, and opens up further possibilities for identity reframing and recovery. The final part of the book presents a new model of identity construction framed in women's health identity. Linking with current theoretical thinking about gender, media, health psychology and identity construction, the book brings together a women's health grounded in women's experience and considers the implication of this new model for those investigating, providing and delivering health care Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Introducing Health and Psychology....Pages 1-22 Front Matter....Pages 23-23 Understanding Women’s Health: Health Perspectives....Pages 25-46 Identity Theory and an Interactive Health Identity....Pages 47-68 Feminist as Far as Possible — The Feminist Health Identity and Critical Realism....Pages 69-94 Investigating Women’s Health: The Story So Far....Pages 95-109 Front Matter....Pages 111-111 Narrative Touchstones of the Storied Perimenopausal Health Identity....Pages 113-140 Reaching Out — Interpersonal Narratives of the Perimenopausal Health Identity....Pages 141-160 Stories of Societal Health — The Impact of Narrated Positional, Situated and Ideological Health Representation....Pages 161-201 Front Matter....Pages 203-203 Identity Actions: Bringing about Social Change....Pages 205-213 Back Matter....Pages 214-227

This book explores the construction of health identity from the stand-point of women's everyday experiences. It examines personal, interpersonal and societal aspects of construction to reveal and evolving identity that moves away from the often fixed stereotypical models of medical illness towards an axis of illness and wellbeing, and opens up further possibilities for identity reframing and recovery.

The final part of the book presents a new model of identity construction framed in women's health identity. Linking with current theoretical thinking about gender, media, health psychology and identity construction, the book brings together a women's health grounded in women's experience and considers the implication of this new model for those investigating, providing and delivering health care.