Poststructuralism and nursing: uncomfortable bedfellows?

Abstract

The benefits and limitations of the application of poststructuralist in nursing research are discussed. The debate concerning the use of poststructuralist theory in feminist research is drawn on to argue a divergence between a deconstructionist poststructuralism and nursing aims. It is argued that there are strong parallels between nursing and social movements such as feminism. The reasons why many feminist and nursing researchers have been attracted to poststructuralist theory are explored, as are the criticisms of poststructuralism as an inadequate, even reactionary theory. It is argued that poststructuralism is useful for examining or deconstructing existing discourse and practice, but incompatible and inadequate for research which aims to develop or change such discourses or practices.

The influence of liberal political ideology on nursing science

“…Rather, it results from (a) ‘the installation of a profound measure of social and moral authority’, (b) the ‘winning over’ of the popular consent of substantial proportions of the population including subaltern and dominated groups, and (c) exercise of this authority in a diversity of sites (for example, healthcare arenas, economic sectors, and popular media) (424). 4 For a fuller discussion of racism in nursing, see, for example, Barbee (1993); Shaha (1998); Eliason (1999); and Taylor (1999). 5 Such inquiries are needed to build on existing work in nursing informed by critical, feminist, postmodern and poststructural perspectives developed by scholars such as Allen (1999), Cheek (1999), Drevdahl (1999), Anderson (2000a), and Francis (2000), among others. 6 The term political economy has its origins in the nineteenth century as the usual name for the discipline of economics, reflecting the inherent relationship between economic theory and political action ( Jary and Jary 1991). Given the political nature of economics, globalization and free trade, current political economic theory focuses on patterns of economic organization — including, among others, the free market economy and advanced corporate capitalism — and their importance in shaping all other social relations (Hale, 1995). 7 In Canada, the term Aboriginal refers to indigenous peoples including First Nations, Métis and Inuit groups.…”

Post-structural feminist interpretive interactionism

“…Post-structuralist ideas can, therefore, be harnessed for the benefit of midwifery research without sacrificing our commitment to improving people's lives by generating knowledge (Mitchell 1996, Heslop 1997, Walker 1997, Francis 2000, Allen and Harding 2001, Stajduhar et al 2001, Fahy 2002). …”

El Uso De Un Paradigma Emancipador Para La Teoría Feminista Posestructuralista en La Investigación De Enfermería: Sus Implicancias Y Desafíos

“…La MFP enfatiza que se precisa una re-conceptualización de los discursos como un proceso de interacción o de proceso más que uno de estructura, aspecto que sería propio de la deconstrucción posestructuralista, centrado en el método, no en procesos sociales participantes. Otros autores apuntan a que la de-construcción no constituye una oposición a los discursos verdaderos, sino que es solamente una crítica (51).…”