Fostering nurses' political knowledges and practices: education and political activation in relation to lesbian health.
This article describes findings from a qualitative policy study focused on female nurses' activism in relation to lesbian health. Critical feminist analysis and comparative life history methodology were applied to career histories obtained from 10 diversely situated female nurses across Ontario, Canada. The findings show that nursing activist practices are informed by advocacy experiences that foster inclusive professional and community education plus formal education processes that shape their political socialization. Implications for nursing theory include the development of political knowledges and practices that support caring science, sociopolitical knowing, and primary healthcare nursing practice in a community context.
MacDonnell
Judith A
JA
School of Nursing, York University, HNES Bldg, Room 322, 4700 Keele St, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada. jmacdonn@yorku.ca
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009742:Nursing Theory; D009864:Ontario; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011057:Politics; D011287:Prejudice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012650:Self Disclosure; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health