Barbara Keddy

A feminist critique of breast cancer research among Korean women

Studies indicate ethnic differences in incidence, mortality, and survival rate of breast cancer. Despite the low incidence rate of breast cancer among the Korean population, Koreans are reported to be less likely to survive breast cancer. In this article, using a feminist perspective, the reasons why Korean women have been reported to be less likely to survive breast cancer are analyzed through a critical review of research among Korean women. A total of 469 studies (145 unpublished master’s theses and doctoral dissertations and 324 articles published in South Korea and in the United States) were reviewed, analyzed, and critiqued in terms of biases present in the research process. Through a feminist critique of the literature, four possible reasons are proposed: androcentric views and assumptions underlying the research, modesty issues imbedded in Korean culture, the victim-blaming tendency of Korean culture, and intense emotions without adequate support.

Women living with environmental illness

We used a case study approach to explore the experiences of 4 women who live with environmental illness (EI). From the unstructured interviews we found a variety of themes that pointed to the complexity of EI and its severe impact on the lives of these women, their families, and their significant others. The methodology was guided by an ecofeminist approach, which enabled a critical analysis of the data to move beyond the personal to the broader sociopolitical forces shaping society. We identified the following themes from the womens stories: indirect exposure to incitants through people with whom these women come in close physical contact; the phenomenon of burden of proof, meaning that these women are forced to explain and legitimize their illness on a continuous basis; taking refuge from a hostile environment in social isolation to a more controlled environment, not as a matter of choice, but because of the severity of the illness; and, finally, a change in value system was integral to the entire process of living with EI.

The nurse as mother surrogate: Oral histories of Nova Scotia nurses from the 1920s and 1930s

This study was conducted to gain a perspective on the social history of nursing during the 1920s and 1930s. Fifteen nurses who worked or who trained during this time were interviewed. These nurses were recruited for the study using a snowball technique of a cross‐sectional, nonrandom sample of older Nova Scotian nurses throughout the province. The interview followed a semi‐structured interview technique. The grounded theory methodology was employed, and from the data the concept of mother surrogate role of the nurse evolved. Many theorists believe the role of mother surrogate is detrimental to the nursing profession. The data suggest that during the 1920s and 1930s, the role of the nurse as mother surrogate was influential in the evolution of nursing. If this role has existed since the beginning of the profession, nursing theorists may be forced to conclude that it will always remain an integral component of the nursing role.