[Women caregivers' experiences in caring at home for a family member with dementia: a feminist approach].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore women caregivers' lived experiences in caring at home for a family member with dementia and to identify conditions that oppress women in the context of family caregiving.


METHODS
This study was conducted within the feminist perspectives using qualitative secondary data. Ten secondary data conveying self reflective contents were selected from the 25 original data obtained in 1999 to 2000.


RESULTS
Six themes that emerged from the qualitative thematic content analysis were; androcentric view of family caregiving, undervalued family caregiving by the family members, Self rationalization in the context of family caregiving, family-centric care mechanism, exemplary caring within the family context, and inter-familial relationships among women.


CONCLUSIONS
The main focus of feminist research is to provide empowerment for the women research participants and to bring about social change of oppressive constraint through some actions. On the basis of the research findings, therefore, action strategies from feminist perspectives were suggested in some aspects of health care delivery sectors, nursing education and research sectors, and administrative sectors.
Yih
Bong-Sook
BS
Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-799, Korea. yihdoh03@snu.ac.kr
Kim
Chun-Mi
CM
Yi
Myungsun
M
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological