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A Phenomenal Study of African American Women with Multiple Sclerosis: Disability Identity and the Superwoman Schema

Henry, Jessica S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1450982512

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Counselor Education (Education).
For African American (AA) women, the conversation regarding the acknowledgment of having a disability is considered a `taboo’ phenomenon and rarely associated with the holistic construct of one’s individual identity (e.g., Loveland, 1999). This concept of awareness and acceptance of corresponding impairments from a physical or mental illness is known as disability identity (DI) (Dunn & Burcaw, 2013). Similar to this conversation about the development of a disability identity is the phenomenon known as the superwoman schema (SWS) (Wallace, 1978; Woods-Giscombe, 2010). The principles outlined in theoretical perspective SWS provides rationale to support the hypothesis that historical roles - and innate obligations to care for the needs of others (Black & Peacock, 2011; Black, Murry, Cutrona, & Chen, 2009; Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2008) may overshadow the process of returning to a state of holistic wellness after being diagnosed with an acquired disability. In general, research suggests that for people diagnosed with acquired disabilities it is a beneficial and critical part of rehabilitiation to confront physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual weaknesses in order to improve overall health (Gill, 1997). Together these two phenomenons suggest potential conflict to the commitment surrounding selfcare and commitment to the community for AA women. In order to assist AA women with MS in the process of disability identity development and adjustment to disability after being diagnosed this research investigation was designed to answer the following three questions: 1) Do African American women associate with the superwoman schema?, 2) What is the essence of the lived experience for African American women with MS?, and 3) What challenges do African American women with MS experience in regards to maintaining role obligations of SWS and the development of a disability identity?
Robinson Mona, PhD (Committee Chair)
Ward-Randolph Adah, PhD (Committee Member)
Bowen Nikol , PhD (Committee Member)
Martin-Conley Valerie, PhD (Committee Member)
257 p.
Counseling Education; Public Health; Rehabilitation
African American Women; Multiple Sclerosis; Disability identity; Superwoman schema; Adjustment to disability

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Henry, J. S. (2016). A Phenomenal Study of African American Women with Multiple Sclerosis: Disability Identity and the Superwoman Schema [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1450982512

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Henry, Jessica. A Phenomenal Study of African American Women with Multiple Sclerosis: Disability Identity and the Superwoman Schema. 2016. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1450982512.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Henry, Jessica. "A Phenomenal Study of African American Women with Multiple Sclerosis: Disability Identity and the Superwoman Schema." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1450982512

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1450982512
944
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.