Naslov
Medical anthropologists and the canaries of their coalmines

Autori
Špoljar-Vržina, Sanja M.

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
The 21st Century: The Century of Anthropology / Sutlive, Vinson, H ; Hamada, Tomoko - Williamsburg (VA) : International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES), 1998, 346-347

Skup
The 14th International Congress of the Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences

Mjesto i datum
Williamsburg (VA), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 26.07.-01.08.08.1998

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
medical anthropology; coping; refugees

Sažetak
It has recently been contemplated that the subfield of medical anthropology allows compassionate empathy and furthers, rather than hinders the concern for the "other". Certainly, the engagement that medical anthropology dedicates to the practical world problems enhances its further rapid growth and may well be the reason for the majority of medical anthropologists being oriented toward applied, rather than academic. However, it seems that working within this subfield does not only give an outlet to compassion but confronts us with a serious task, if we are going to accomplish any serious scientific conduct. One is put to the test of not only engaging in urgent issues but, as well, recognizing their true complexity. Metaphorically speaking, one must recognize the "canaries" within his "colamine" of research before proclaiming that there are "subjects" he must save. This paper gives an analysis of such a self-critique process underwent by the author in the course of the research dedicated to coping and stress of displaced person and refugee families in Croatia. The paper explores the observed relationships of those in exile with the various practitioners, caretakers and researchers that create programmes aimed at addressing mental and/or somatic problems, but often fall into the pitfalls that lead into medicalization and psychologization of the basic needs, and most importantly into the simplification of real problems.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Etnologija i antropologija

POVEZANOST RADA