TY - JOUR
T1 - The spaces between
T2 - Partnerships between women researchers and Indigenous Women with disabilities
AU - Marshall, Catherine A.
AU - Kendall, Elizabeth
AU - Catalano, Tara
AU - Barnett, Leda
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Purpose. To understand the experiences of Indigenous Australian women with chronic illnesses and disabilities and their views about a way forward in relation to partnerships in research and community-supported problem-solving. Method. Using a participatory action research framework, five Indigenous women participated in a group meeting and interviews with academic women researchers to discuss their health and disabilities in order to generate solutions that could address health disparities among Indigenous women. Results. Five themes describe the experiences of these Indigenous women when considering their personal histories, interactions with formal service systems, and their aspirations for the future: (i) Ongoing influence of history, (ii) systemic lack of respect, (iii) social context of health, (iv) moving forward in positive ways, and (v) research partnerships as a way forward. The data raised critical questions about the role of research, including, 'Who has the right to tell the stories of the women?'. Conclusions. We show how a small research project conducted in collaboration with five Indigenous women developed into a significant research partnership and resulted in a better understanding of the issues that must be addressed by research in future. It is suggested that through such partnerships underserved women can best be served by research.
AB - Purpose. To understand the experiences of Indigenous Australian women with chronic illnesses and disabilities and their views about a way forward in relation to partnerships in research and community-supported problem-solving. Method. Using a participatory action research framework, five Indigenous women participated in a group meeting and interviews with academic women researchers to discuss their health and disabilities in order to generate solutions that could address health disparities among Indigenous women. Results. Five themes describe the experiences of these Indigenous women when considering their personal histories, interactions with formal service systems, and their aspirations for the future: (i) Ongoing influence of history, (ii) systemic lack of respect, (iii) social context of health, (iv) moving forward in positive ways, and (v) research partnerships as a way forward. The data raised critical questions about the role of research, including, 'Who has the right to tell the stories of the women?'. Conclusions. We show how a small research project conducted in collaboration with five Indigenous women developed into a significant research partnership and resulted in a better understanding of the issues that must be addressed by research in future. It is suggested that through such partnerships underserved women can best be served by research.
KW - Chronic illness
KW - Disabilities
KW - Indigenous women
KW - Partnerships
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=38649132579&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=38649132579&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09638280701532276
DO - 10.1080/09638280701532276
M3 - Article
C2 - 18210322
AN - SCOPUS:38649132579
SN - 0963-8288
VL - 30
SP - 191
EP - 201
JO - Disability and Rehabilitation
JF - Disability and Rehabilitation
IS - 3
ER -