“(UN)NECESSARY CHANGES.” SELF-IMAGE TRANSFORMATIONS AND REORGANIZATION OF EVERYDAY LIFE OF WOMEN WITH ACQUIRED DISABILITIES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF NEOPLASTIC DISEASE

• Main Author: Katarzyna Piątek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wydawnictwa AGH 2020-09-01
• Series: Studia Humanistyczne AGH
• Subjects: : identity; the redefinition of ‘ego’; the conflict of roles; reorganization of everyday life; acquired disability; cancer
• Online Access: https://journals.bg.agh.edu.pl/STUDIA/2020.19.3/human.2020.19.3.123.pdf

The aim of the article is to present, based on the author’s research, identity problems and conflicts of social roles experienced by women with acquired disability which is a consequence of cancer. The research shows that numerous tensions and dilemmas occur in relation to a conflict between being a disabled woman and her family, professional and social roles. Disability is connected with inability to perform all former roles and the need to reorganize everyday life, thus affecting the image of oneself. Therefore, the situation of becoming disabled is a critical moment which forces the redefinition of ‘Ego’, a change of former lifestyle, performed roles, and relations with other people. In order to cope with these challenges and adapt to change, women take up various action strategies.