| Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools. |
Gendered Portraits of Depression in Swedish NewspapersUmeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden Mass media are influential mediators of information, knowledge, and narratives of health and illness. In this article, we report on an examination of personal accounts of illness as presented in three Swedish newspapers, focusing on the gendered representation of laypersons' experiences of depression. A database search identified all articles mentioning depression during the year 2002. Twenty six articles focusing on personal experiences of depression were then subjected to a qualitative content analysis. We identified four themes: displaying a successful facade, experiencing a cracking facade, losing and regaining control, and explaining the illness. We found both similarities and differences with regard to gendered experiences. The mediated accounts of depression both upheld and challenged traditional gender stereotypes. The women's stories were more detailed, relational, emotionally oriented, and embodied. The portrayal of men was less emotional and expressive, and described a more dramatic onset of depression, reflecting hegemonic patterns of masculinity.
Key Words: depression experiences gender illness and disease media
Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 18, No. 7,
962-973 (2008) This article has been cited by other articles:
|
||||||||||||||||
