Othering is a process that identifies those that are thought to be different from oneself or the mainstream, and it can reinforce and reproduce positions of domination and subordination. Although there are theoretical and conceptual treatments of othering in the literature, researchers lack sufficient examples of othering practices that influence the interactions between patients and health care providers. The purpose of this study was to explore the interactions between health care providers and South Asian immigrant women to describe othering practices and their effects. Ethnographic methods were used involving in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The analysis entailed identifying uses of othering and exploring the dynamics through which this process took place. Women shared stories of how discriminatory treatment was experienced. The interviews with health care professionals provided examples of how views of South Asian women shaped the way health care services were provided. Three forms of othering were found in informants' descriptions of their problematic health care encounters: essentializing explanations, culturalist explanations, and racializing explanations. Women's stories illustrated ways of coping and managing othering experiences. The analysis also revealed how individual interactions are influenced by the social and institutional contexts that create conditions for othering practices. To foster safe and effective health care interactions, those in power must continue to unmask othering practices and transform health care environments to support truly equitable health care.

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The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of family members on immigrant South Asian women's health and health-seeking behavior. This qualitative study was part of a larger study that examined the health-seeking practices of immigrant South Asian women living in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Using ethnographic methods, data were collected through face-to-face interviews with women who had lived in Canada for 10 months to 31 years. Analysis of translated and transcribed data revealed that women made decisions about their health in consultation with family members. Overall, family members were perceived to be supportive and provided direct and indirect assistance to women in ways that influenced their health. Expected roles and responsibilities often had detrimental influences on women's health. Health care for immigrant South Asian women needs to take into account women's relationships with family members and the influence of family on women's health.

Diagnosis of a life-threatening disease is a major family stressor. How family members communicate with each other about the situation and their fears has received little study. The communication patterns of 41 couples where the woman was newly diagnosed with Stage 1 or 2 breast cancer were investigated. Family interviews were done at five points, from the time of diagnosis to 1 year later. Qualitative grounded theory methods were triangulated with responses to the Couple Communication Scale and State Trait Anxiety Inventory. Three major types of couple discussion patterns about fears, doubts, and emotional issues were seen, based on whether they shared similar or different views about the importance of talking. Some couples talked openly or reasonably openly. Others did not talk to each other, although a few of these talked to other people. Another group, who held divergent views, demonstrated more problems in their communication. Selective open disclosure was generally perceived as the most satisfactory of the patterns. Quantitative findings generally supported the talking themes that emerged.