Mexican Women and Decision Making in Health

Abstract

<p>This chapter maintains that it is possible to do empirical research that differentiates the two analytic dimensions of the “habitus” concept of Pierre Bourdieu and proposes a first approach to the analysis of this concept. The aim is to provide a way to operationalize the concept of habitus and show its relevance to understanding how women’s health decision making in health services occurs in Mexico. The sociological reflection is based on qualitative data from research projects of several years regarding the habitus of women when dealing with the problems of human papillomavirus (HPV) or cervical cancer, or when undergoing a Pap smear. The chapter postulates that differentiating these two dimensions not only confirms the practical usefulness of the concept of habitus, but it is also a way to show, in the discourse and practices of the agents, The most determined dimension, as well as the largest agency of its appreciations, dispositions and resources. In their analysis of empirical data, the authors uses other concepts such as field, capital, agency, strategy, autonomy, consent, and trajectories.</p>