The personal and the political : women's activism in response to the breast cancer and AIDS epidemics

Author(s)

    • Boehmer, Ulrike

Bibliographic Information

The personal and the political : women's activism in response to the breast cancer and AIDS epidemics

Ulrike Boehmer

State University of New York Press, c2000

  • (hardcover : alk. paper)
  • pbk. : alk. paper

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 193-203) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Drawing on the experiences of thirty-seven diverse women who are active in the AIDS and breast cancer movements, The Personal and the Political provides an in-depth look at the social and political dimensions of AIDS and breast cancer within the context of social movement and feminist theories. While it is generally assumed that activists' reasons for getting involved in either the AIDS or breast cancer movements differ, Boehmer uncovers similarity in women's motivations, finding that activism depends on both a personal and a political link to the disease. The work pays particular attention to diversity issues such as race, class, and sexual orientation and explores the women's motivations, how they view their activism, and how their activism relates to their identities. The author lets the women speak for themselves, interspersing their voices throughout the text. The book highlights similarities and differences between the activists in both movements and between the movements themselves, offering some intriguing conclusions.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Introduction 1 A History of AIDS and Breast Cancer Activism 2 Activism and Activists: Definitions and Selection Criteria 3 Two Worlds: The Political Culture of AIDS and Breast Cancer Activism 3.1 New Activists 3.2 Activists with Political Experience 4 The Personal and the Political 4.1 Diagnosis 4.2 Community Activism 4.3 Political-Ideological Approach 5 Collective Identity Processes about Sexuality and Gender 6 Diversity and Movement Strategies 7 Conclusion Appendix: Sample Notes References Index

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