Abstract
In this paper I analyse the relation between happiness and chronic illness from the perspective of medical anthropology and disability studies. By looking at the disability paradox I deconstruct society’s view of people with a disability. I argue that the disability paradox is problematic as it ignores the views of people with a disability. Moreover, such a paradox reinforces the idea that living with a chronic illness or disability is a devastating experience and that happiness and disability are mutally exclusive realities. Based on empiric examples of people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis I demonstrate that people with a chronic illness can experience happiness in spite of illness, but also as a consequence of it.
Highlights
When I ring at Sarah’s doorbell for an interview the door opens automatically
If we look at the Greek notion of happiness, we see that it was ethically constructed where “to lead a good life, one had to cultivate and to exercise virtues, including personal growth, autonomy, and self-acceptance” (Dunn & Brody, 2008: 414)
The paradox is essentially problematic because it ignores the perspective of people with a disability themselves, and because people living with a chronic illness or disability are seen as having a low quality of life
Summary
When I ring at Sarah’s doorbell for an interview the door opens automatically. I shout ‘hello’ and enter carefully. Sarah has Multiple Sclerosis and as a consequence needs to rest in bed the majority of the day. As she has eight carers, she can still live at home. With the progression of the illness, her life became more and more restricted She had to stop working and give up many hobbies. With the slow progression of the illness she had time to adjust to the changing circumstances This does not mean that she is happy all the time, she complains about the carers who forget to put her telephone in her reach or people who stare at her when she is in the wheelchair.
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