Your task in Part 2 is to investigate and report on the lived experience of the health condition you've chosen to explore. How do different folks make meaning
of their experience with illness? How do they navigate it? How do people's identities (and especially experiences with oppression) shape their health beliefs
and behaviors?
Most of us learn from our families how to make meaning of illness and how to behave when ill (i.e. the way we navigate and define symptoms, where we go
to to seek care or treatment, how we expect our roles to change in our workplaces, what we expect from medical professionals and family members). We
also learn how to make sense of illness and disability through our broader ableist culture.
Your sources for information in this paper may include; books, peer reviewed articles, blogs, the websites of relevant professional or advocacy organizations,
research reports, and first person accounts of people who experience the condition e.g. in memoirs, blogs, videos, social media, or in your own personal or
professional life.
Part 2 Detailed Instructions
The 6-8 page double spaced paper should cite at least 4 peer-reviewed sources. Because the goal is to explore the experience of the condition you have
chosen, you're expected to cite at least one source created/authored by (or featuring the direct words of) someone who experiences the condition. If you
have personal or professional experience with the condition, please feel invited to draw upon this as well!
Meaning of the Illness/Condition:
What are the general societal attitudes, beliefs and assumptions about this condition?
We have studied the "social construction" of illness in Module 10, so with that in mind: what can you say about the history and social construction of this
condition (i.e. when was it first defined/invented/pathologized, and by whom, and how has this changed over time, and what are the power implications)?
How that might this history impact the way someone makes meaning of this condition today?
How might a person or family's health beliefs affect their response to this condition? How might health beliefs vary by culture and identity (e.g. by
race/ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, class/SES)?
How might broader cultural structures and conditions affect a person or family’s response to this health condition? (e.g. ableism, saneism, racism, sexism,
our health care delivery system, experiences with medical gaslighting Links to an external site./harmful clinical interactions, etc).
- Psychosocial Impact
What psychosocial stressors might a person experience with this health condition? How might these stressors vary at different times along the journey? How
might these stressors vary based on culture and identity (e.g. race/ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender, etc.)?
How might life change for a person if/when they seek treatment?
What are some things that people may need (e.g. information, medication, care, community, etc.) as they navigate this condition? How might these needs
vary at different times along the journey? What is known about the experiences of caregivers who support folks experiencing this health condition (both
professional caregivers as well as family/friends)?
What community-based resources, such as specialized organizations, websites and support groups/blogs, exist for this condition? Please list specific
resources found (or highlight that there is a lack of resources).
Broadly speaking: what factors appear to help people with this condition thrive? What factors appear to hinder thriving? - Social Work Role
Discuss the role of social work/your discipline in addressing this condition (e.g. with care, psychoeducation, advocacy, etc.)? Using what you have learned
from this course, what might an integrated approach to care look like? - Final Personal Reflection
You have explored this condition all semester! Describe the core learning you take from this assignment, and how you might use this learning in your future practice
Sample Solution