Gender Inflexion in the Construction of a New Medical Specialty

Authors

  • Rachel Aisengart Menezes UERJ
  • Maria Luiza Heilborn UERJ

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-026X2007000300004

Abstract

This article presents the constitution of a new medical specialty, Palliative Care, directed to patients “out of therapeutic possibilities”. The concept emerged around 1960 in England and was implemented in Brazil a couple of years before 1990. It is characterized by an active attendance of the dying process. It postulates a “spiritual assistance” to the patient and his/her family members, including the emotional universe. Ethnographical observation and interviews with Brazilian professionals showed a majority of women among the health teams involved in this proposal. This article discusses and analyses the connection between the construction of the specialty and gender representation among these professionals that reflects popular social images about death, beliefs, emotions and the roles played by women and men in these subjects.

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Published

2007-09-11

How to Cite

Menezes, R. A., & Heilborn, M. L. (2007). Gender Inflexion in the Construction of a New Medical Specialty. Revista Estudos Feministas, 15(3), 563. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-026X2007000300004

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 3 (2007)

Section

Articles

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