Gendered Portraits of Depression in Swedish Newspapers

Bibliographic Data

ID4701593
AuthorsCarita Bengs (0000-0002-3634-0600, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden), Ella Johansson (0000-0003-2351-5173, Umeå University), Eva Johansson (0000-0001-6695-7989, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden), Ulla Danielsson (Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden), Arja Lehti (Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden), Anne Hammarström (0000-0002-4095-7961, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden)
Year2008
Volume18
Issue7
Pages962-973
Publication date2008-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732308319825
PMID18552322
OpenAlexW2148767658
LanguageEN
Citations received22
References cited28

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

Art · Embodied cognition · Hegemonic masculinity · Hegemony · Literature · Masculinity · Media studies · Medicalization · Narrative · Newspaper · Politics · Portrait · Psychiatry · Psychoanalysis · Sociology · Gender Roles and Identity Studies · Gender Studies · Gender, Feminism, and Media · History · Media Influence and Health · Psychology

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub