Reciprocity, Autonomy, and Vulnerability in Men's Experiences of Informal Cancer Care

Bibliographic Data

ID4675592
AuthorsK Kenny (0000-0001-9088-5671, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, corresponding author), Alex Broom (0000-0003-1258-1140, UNSW Sydney), Nicole Cort (0000-0001-8434-5994, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), Emma Kirby (0000-0001-9754-0342, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), John L Oliffe (0000-0001-9029-4003, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), David Wyld (0000-0001-9523-4333, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia), Zarnie Lwin (0009-0006-5009-4895, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
Year2020
Volume30
Issue4
Pages491-503
Publication date2020-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732319855962
PMID31216932
OpenAlexW2949741148
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited50

Men are increasingly participating, and acknowledging their roles, as informal carers. Yet, there has been comparatively little exploration of their experiences therein, especially within the context of cancer care. Here, drawing on semi-structured qualitative interviews with 16 Australian male carers for a relative with cancer, and using constructivist grounded theory, we explore their experiences of informal caring. Our analysis highlights a series of tensions, including the following: the meanings and practicalities of care provision including notions of reciprocity, duty, autonomy, and interdependence; the discomforts of dependency and vulnerability; and the complicated moralities that inflect "caring well." Given the shifting dynamics around informal care, we argue for increased attention to the affective tensions that arise at the nexus of moralities and masculinities in informal caring relations, especially as they are articulated in the context of illness, affliction, and dependency

Autonomy · Grounded theory · Political science · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Family Support in Illness · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · Work-Family Balance Challenges

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