Cultural perspectives on chronic illnesses

Cliff Sloane (cesloane@MAROON.TC.UMN.EDU)
Mon, 7 Mar 1994 23:33:12 -0600

A friend is doing research on attitudes towards chronic illnesses of
children, particularly those that affect development (Down's syndrome,
etc.). The team is interviewing parents from several cultural backgrounds,
all within MPLS-St Paul, to ascertain how the parents view the situation:
what could explain the illness/situation, why them, and what they feel
their duty is for the future.

Can anyone suggest appropriate literature in medical anthropology on this
subject? Offhand, all I could come up with was Geertz's little description
of hermaphrodites in "Common Sense as a Cultural System."

Thanks!

Cliff Sloane, Ethnomusicology
Metropolitan State University