Open AccessYou Poor Thing: A Retrospective Autoethnography of Visible Chronic Illness as a Symbolic Vanishing Act
Author(s) -
Alexandra C. H. Nowakowski
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2016.2296
Subject(s) - autoethnography , sanctions , normative , deviance (statistics) , symbolic interactionism , sociology , psychology , social psychology , gender studies , epistemology , law , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , political science
In this autoethnography, I outline a framework for understanding illness as deviance, contextualizing general sociological theory on sick role dynamics to the specific case of chronic conditions that manifest with visible physical differences. I demonstrate two distinct ways in which chronic conditions can foster labeling and stigma. First, I explore how social norms can result in sanctions for showing physical evidence of chronic conditions. I describe sanctions I have experienced for violating conventional ideas about youth and female beauty, and associated behavioral expectations. Second, I explore how double jeopardy can result from failing to meet usual social expectations for sickness. I describe sanctions I have experienced for violating ideas of what abilities a person with a chronic illness should possess, and how they should behave in relation. I conclude by illuminating how normative social discourse can simultaneously sensationalize and efface people with visible chronic diseases.