Journal article
Sociological Reflections on Objectivity, Voice, and the Body
Qualitative sociology, v 17(3)
Sep 1994
Abstract
A review essay on books by: Sandra Butler & Barbara Rosenblum, Cancer in Two Voices (San Francisco, CA: Spinsters Book Co, 1991); & Marianne A. Paget, A Complex Sorrow: Reflections on Cancer and an Abbreviated Life (Devault, Marjorie L. [Ed], Philadelphia, PA: Temple U Press, 1993 [see listings in IRPS No. 77]). The question of achieving objectivity in social science research based on personal experience is raised by both these books, which deal with facing the devastation caused by cancer at a relatively young age. Butler & Rosenblum present private journal entries reflecting on their lives as friends & lovers both before & after Rosenblum's diagnosis with breast cancer. Their book is carefully written, but it is not clear how much was written jointly & how much was a retrospective reconstruction by Butler of their experiences. Paget chronicles her life & impending death in journal entries & a newsletter to her friends, emphasizing the subject of medical error, a phenomenon that cost Paget her life, through misdiagnosis. Both books present strong examples of dealing with medical error, especially in relation to cancer, & dying too soon. J. W. Stanton
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Details
- Title
- Sociological Reflections on Objectivity, Voice, and the Body
- Creators
- Susan Bell - Bowdoin College
- Publication Details
- Qualitative sociology, v 17(3)
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Sociology
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-34247697729
- Other Identifier
- 991020638503804721