Chronic Illness as a Source of Happiness: Paradox or perfectly normal?

Auteurs-es

  • S. Hoppe University of Amsterdam

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.5195/hcs.2013.138

Mots-clés :

chronic illness, disability, happiness, disability paradox, Multiple Sclerosis

Résumé

In this paper I analyse the relation between happiness and chronic illness from the perspective of medical anthropology and disability studies. By looking at the disability paradox I deconstruct society’s view of people with a disability. I argue that the disability paradox is problematic as it ignores the views of people with a disability. Moreover, such a paradox reinforces the idea that living with a chronic illness or disability is a devastating experience and that happiness and disability are mutally exclusive realities. Based on empiric examples of people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis I demonstrate that people with a chronic illness can experience happiness in spite of illness, but also as a consequence of it.

 

Biographie de l'auteur-e

S. Hoppe, University of Amsterdam

Silke Hoppe, a trained cultural anthropologist, is researcher with the department of Sociology and Anthropology (Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences) at the University of Amsterdam. Her work has investigated different forms of illness narratives of people who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She has also worked in the field of disability studies and undertaken research on the role of reciprocity in people’s illness experiences. Currently, Silke Hoppe's doctoral research with the Univeristy of Amsterdam focuses on dementia and long-term care in which illness experiences of people with dementia and their family members is a key focus.

Much of Silke Hoppe's previous and ongoing research has been published in the International Journal of Medical Anthropology (previously Medische Antopologie).

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Publié-e

2013-11-15

Numéro

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2013): Translating Happiness: Medicine, Culture and Social Progress

Rubrique

Articles

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