Health Communication and Breast Cancer among Black Women

Culture, Identity, Spirituality, and Strength

By (author) Annette D. Madlock

Publication date:

23 June 2016

Length of book:

112 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9780739185155

Health Communication and Breast Cancer among Black Women: Culture, Identity, Spirituality, and Strength addresses how the discourse of strength constructs the identity of Black women even during times of chronic illness through the lens of Black feminist thought and womanist ideology. In doing so, Madlock Gatison explores how the narratives surrounding pink ribbon awareness and survivorship culture, religion and spirituality, and the myth of the strong Black woman impact Black female breast cancer survivors’ self-perceptions, views others had of them, and their ability to express their needs and concerns including those involving their healthcare. This book will be of interest to scholars of public health, health communication, and sociology.

Foreword by Shirley A. Jackson
Introduction
Chapter 1 Background and Theoretical Framing
Chapter 2 Myth of the Strong Black Woman: Asset or Liability
Chapter 3 Faithtalk: God’s Got It
Chapter 4 Embracing the Pink Identity: Black Women and Pink Ribbon Culture
Chapter 5 Work and Family
Conclusion: Body Politics, Coping, and Reframing the Narrative

This work provides a compelling insider’s view of how Black women’s strength, identity, and spirituality impact the unique challenges faced by Black women cancer survivors. Drawing heavily on personal experience, Gatison illuminates a holistic view regarding the impact of cancer on Black women’s lives. This book is a welcomed addition to academicians and professionals in the field of health communication, as well as others interested in Black women’s health.