Postcolonial Nursing Scholarship: From Epistemology to Method

Abstract

Postcolonial theory, with its interpretations of race, racialization, and culture, offers nursing scholarship a set of powerful analytic tools unlike those offered by other nursing and social theories. Building on the foundation established by those who first pointed to the importance of incorporating cultural aspects into nursing care, nursing scholarship is in a position to move forward. Critical perspectives such as postcolonialism equip us to meet the epistemological imperative of giving voice to subjugated knowledges and the social mandates of uncovering existing inequities and addressing the social aspects of health and illness. This article makes a case for the integration of postcolonial perspectives into theorizing and sketches out a research methodology based on the postcolonial tradition.

Understanding access to healthcare among Indigenous peoples: A comparative analysis of biomedical and postcolonial perspectives

“…Emancipatory knowing is the human ability to notice social injustice and inequity, but also to critically consider why these injustices are perpetuated or remain unnoticed, and what social and structural changes must be made to right these wrongs (Chinn & Kramer, 2008). Creating this knowledge is critical to enacting social justice, arguably a social and moral responsibility within nursing (Reimer‐Kirkham & Anderson, 2002). A small body of literature exploring access to healthcare for Indigenous perspectives, guided by postcolonial and other critical theories, sheds light on where change is needed—not only in the availability of healthcare services and providers, but also in creating spaces that are socially safe and accepting, fostering the development of trusting relationships with healthcare providers and designing healthcare services and policies that attend to the intersecting historical, socioeconomic, and political conditions experienced by Indigenous peoples in Canada.…”

“…Scientific evidence from the fields of genetic and evolutionary biology has not supported biological origins of race; rather race is argued to be a social construction (Braun, 2002; Glenn, 2000; Witzig, 1996). Race therefore is a concept that has been used to construct and organize dominant and subordinate relationships (Reimer‐Kirkham & Anderson, 2002). Racialization is a process of labeling a group collectively based on ‘presumed biological, physical, or genetic differences’ and attributing social and cultural differences to race (Browne et al., 2005; p. 21).…”

“…Racialization is a process of labeling a group collectively based on ‘presumed biological, physical, or genetic differences’ and attributing social and cultural differences to race (Browne et al., 2005; p. 21). Similarly, othering describes the process by which ‘identity is assigned, human existence is categorized, people are characterized according to certain criteria (such as worldview or similar anthropological construct), and experiences are homogenized’ (Reimer‐Kirkham & Anderson, 2002, p. 6). Racialization and othering both result in generalizations and assumptions and are powerful mechanisms to create and maintain dominant–subordinate relationships (Reimer‐Kirkham & Anderson, 2002).…”

“…Similarly, othering describes the process by which ‘identity is assigned, human existence is categorized, people are characterized according to certain criteria (such as worldview or similar anthropological construct), and experiences are homogenized’ (Reimer‐Kirkham & Anderson, 2002, p. 6). Racialization and othering both result in generalizations and assumptions and are powerful mechanisms to create and maintain dominant–subordinate relationships (Reimer‐Kirkham & Anderson, 2002). Conceptualizing race as based on genetic ‘difference’ rather than as a social construct profoundly impacts how health research questions are framed, and whether the impact of social inequities or racial discrimination on health is considered (Braun, 2002).…”

“…A postcolonial perspective allows us to view healthcare through a political lens, drawing attention to political and power dynamics at play within healthcare (Reimer‐Kirkham & Anderson, 2002). The patchwork of healthcare policy and funding that is the current reality for Indigenous peoples in Canada creates difficulties accessing necessary healthcare services (Lavoie, 2013).…”