Politics and personal pursuits: the experience of mothers of children with severe disabilities.
This study concerns the political nature of the work of mothers of children with disabilities who extended their caregiving responsibilities to social action in the public domain. Conversations were held with twenty-one women to determine, from the women's personal points of view, the meaning of their politically oriented work. The women who participated in the study were actively engaged in developing educational programs, initiating parent support groups, educating professionals in health, education, and social services and serving on various committees and boards of directors. The research adopted a feminist frame of reference to understand the women's experience of political activism. As such, the research recognized the integrative aspects of women's lives: commonplace and routine tasks of caregiving took on political aspects as the women sought assistance and services for their children with disabilities and their families. Their work often occurred spontaneously and without prior planning due to the urgency of their family's personal needs. In fact, many of the women did not consider their work political at all for it simply coincided with the job of caring for their children. The women's achievements could be attributed in part to the intensity of their personal missions and their remarkable abilities to persuade influential officials and administrators.
Wickham-Searl
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Dowling College, USA.
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011057:Politics; D011209:Power, Psychological; D016730:Program Development; D012935:Social Justice; D012944:Social Support; D012947:Social Work; D014481:United States