The ‘gender puzzle’ of alternative medicine and holistic spirituality: A literature review

Keshet, Yael; Simchai, Dalit

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2014.05.001

Cited by 41 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…In addition, spirituality seems to have systemic interaction with other diversity variables. There is much evidence that the experience and expression of spirituality differs according to diversity aspects such as gender (Briggs and Dixon 2013;Keshet and Simchai 2014;Vosloo, Wissing and Temane 2009) or ethnic and race groups (Archibald 2010;Lewis 2015;Sharma Rastogi and Garg, 2013). In addition, spirituality tends to moderate several outcome behaviors in people from diverse groups (Bliss 2009); Harvey and Martinko 2009;Taylor, Chatters and Jackson 2009), and leads to positive work outcomes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Experience of Spirituality in a Multicultural and Diverse Work Environment

Walt

Klerk

2015

Afr Asian Stud

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Worldwide, the study of spirituality is receiving increased attention, but very little is known about spirituality and its manifestation in African organizations. The aim of this research was to explore the experience of spirituality in a multicultural and diverse working environment, in order to enhance understanding of the functioning of spirituality in relation to diversity in the workplace. In particular, the study explores workplace spirituality from an individual and an organizational perspective within diverse organizations operating within a multicultural society. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 600 white collar workers from two organizations in different industries in South Africa. The research findings indicate that there is an inverse relationship between workplace spirituality and individual spirituality. Furthermore, the study confirmed that the experience of both personal and organizational spirituality is impacted by several diversity characteristics within a multicultural environment. In order to improve understanding of the experience of spirituality in multicultural societies and organizations, further empirical research is recommended. Globally, organizations need to realize the importance of embracing spirituality, in order to function effectively in a multicultural environment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Experience of Spirituality in a Multicultural and Diverse Work Environment

Walt

Klerk

2015

Afr Asian Stud

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“…The over-representation of females is a widely reported phenomenon in CAM practice in general, and Keshet et al [ 24 ] have recently published a literature review on the reasons for this over-representation, which reveals a picture of multiple contradictions. One aspect discussed in the review is that women’s traditional family roles of caring, and responsibility for the family’s health and emotional well-being lead them toward the holistic milieu in greater numbers than men [ 25 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, women who become dissatisfied with the roles of wife, mother, and nurturer are also described to use holistic and spiritual practices to develop a new and stronger sense of self that is facilitated by getting in touch with a ‘core self,’ [ 25 ]. In this sense, CAM in general, and Ayurveda in particular may also become catalysts for change, resistance to traditional meanings of femininity, and the reconstruction of self-identity [ 24 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of ayurvedic medicine in the context of health promotion – a mixed methods case study of an ayurvedic centre in Sweden

Niemi¹,

Ståhle²

2016

BMC Complement Altern Med

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BackgroundAyurveda has its historical roots in India, but has also been internationalised, partly via migration and partly through an increased interest in alternative medicine in the West, where studies point toward increased use. However, there is to date scarce knowledge about the use and experiences of ayurveda in Sweden.MethodsWe have conducted a case study of a center for ayurvedic healthcare in Sweden. We have collected information on client background data from the center’s documentation, and compiled data from all clients who visited the centre for ayurvedic consultation during spring 2014. In total, 55 individuals were included in the study, and 18 of them were chosen for individual semi-structured interviews, to gain a deeper understanding of their motives for seeking, and experiences of ayurvedic health care. The material was analysed and compiled through a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods.ResultsAmong the 55 clients, 91 % were female the mean age was 47 years, and 64 % gave a specific illness as a reason for seeking ayurveda. The most common illnesses were respiratory, musculoskeletal, circulatory, tumor, and cutaneous illnesses. The qualitative results showed that ayurveda was being used in combination with other methods, including various diets, other alternative medicine methods and conventional medicine. Some participants recounted having sought ayurveda as a complement to conventional medicine, or in cases when conventional medicine had been experienced as insufficient in terms of diagnosis or treatment. However, some participants experienced it as difficult to follow the ayurvedic life-style advice in the midst of their everyday life. Many participants reported positive experiences of pulse diagnostics, which was the main diagnostic method used in ayurvedic consultation. Some reported concrete, physical improvement of their symptoms.ConclusionsThis study points towards important aspects of participant experience of ayurveda, that may be subject to further research. The positive effects experienced by some clients should be studied more systematically in order to discern whether they are specific or non-specific. In addition, interesting knowledge may be gained through further study of the reported positive experiences of pulse diagnosis.

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“…Theories have been developed to account for why individuals turn to CAM [26], and increasingly for why they use CAM during pregnancy and childbirth. Although studies suggest that some women are reticent to use CAM during pregnancy due to concerns about risk [8,27], users of CAM prior to pregnancy often continue using particular therapies [23,24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As such, CAM use is one strategy for managing medicalized risk approaches to providing care in pregnancy [32]. Indeed, Keshet et al [26] identified a significant theme in existing research suggesting that women's engagement with CAM arises as a coping mechanism against the power relationships and gender imbalances in health care. A complex and contradictory picture thus emerges: women engage in CAM partially to ameliorate the perceived risks of biomedical maternity care, but at the same time such engagement reinforces increased risk vigilance and a consumerist approach to further use of CAM health care strategies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘You Feel It in Your Body’: Narratives of Embodied Well-Being and Control among Women Who Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine during Pregnancy

McClean

Mitchell

2018

Societies

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In Western societies, women's use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) during pregnancy and labor is increasingly ubiquitous, yet there have been few in-depth explorations of the lived experience of women who use CAM and little critical analysis of CAM's contribution to women's overall experience of pregnancy and childbirth. This paper explores women's narrative accounts of CAM use during pregnancy and childbirth to help uncover the meanings they attribute to CAM use. A qualitative narrative methodology was selected for this study, as it gives prominence to meanings that individuals assign to life events. A purposive sample of 14 women who were familiar with using a range of CAM modalities during pregnancy and childbirth took part in the study. This paper highlights different ways the women engaged with CAM, and how their embodied experiences became the mechanism by which CAM use, value, and safety were judged. CAM use in relation to embodiment became one way the women could reorder their world during pregnancy and childbirth. Moreover, CAM use among pregnant women may lead to the perception of more control and agency, but it also reinforces essentialist and naturalist conceptions of women's identities and bodies.

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The ‘gender puzzle’ of alternative medicine and holistic spirituality: A literature review

Cited by 41 publications

References 55 publications

The Experience of Spirituality in a Multicultural and Diverse Work Environment

The Experience of Spirituality in a Multicultural and Diverse Work Environment

The use of ayurvedic medicine in the context of health promotion – a mixed methods case study of an ayurvedic centre in Sweden

‘You Feel It in Your Body’: Narratives of Embodied Well-Being and Control among Women Who Use Complementary and Alternative Medicine during Pregnancy

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