Guyanese Women's Experiences of Invisibility in Health Care in England.

Helena Ann Mitchell

doi:10.3389/fsoc.2020.00023

Abstract

This article explores the opportunities for strengthening participatory action research (PAR) through an intersectionality framework. In 2015, I completed a Ph.D. study into the lived experiences of migrant Guyanese women, living in England, when seeking diagnoses and treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Group storytelling acted as a lens for the women to talk about how they tried to obtain a diagnosis, in addition to their migratory experiences. Both PAR and intersectionality encourage participant collaboration and community engagement of oppressed groups. The article concludes that the PAR study would have been enhanced by overlaying it with an intersectionality framework. The argument is presented that by doing so the women's accounts in the research study would have been privileged more and activism encouraged in bringing about change to current practices and avoiding perpetuating existing oppressions. The Ph.D. study methodology was based on Koch's interpretation of PAR. In this, PAR is used where the focus is on participation of all stakeholders toward reform and change. It is seen as a social, practical and collaborative process where building relationships with participants is crucial. Intersectionality acknowledges the potential for “black” and other women of color to not remain on the margins but to challenge the traditional biomedical model of health care delivery. Implementing an intersectional approach to the data generation and analysis would have acknowledged power dynamics (i.e., privilege and oppression) and help to identify potential gaps in diabetic provision which are currently invisible or inequitable due to interventions designed to meet the needs of a homogeneous White middle class society.

Highlights

This article explores the opportunities for strengthening participatory action research (PAR) by overlaying that methodology with an intersectionality framework
This article proposes that an Participatory Action Research With Intersectionality intersectionality framework would provide researchers with an additional tool set when using PAR methodology
Intersectionality has been successful because it acknowledges the potential for “black” and other women of color not to remain on the margins by challenging the micro and macro systems in society

Summary

BACKGROUND

This article explores the opportunities for strengthening participatory action research (PAR) by overlaying that methodology with an intersectionality framework. When the women’s experiences are dissected, as evidenced in the PAR data, it is astounding to see the complexity of the intersecting variables in terms of race, class and identity as they tried to cope with a debilitating chronic illness (Hankivsky et al, 2010) These multiple disadvantages were perceived as preventing them from accessing the relevant services as highlighted by Kapilashrami and Hankivsky (2018) who argue that systemic racial issues such as equal accessibility and distribution of resources can affect certain groups like African-Caribbean immigrant women. PAR as a methodology within this context, is primarily used as a qualitative process to provide insight into the lived experience

ETHICAL APPROVAL

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS