Women, low income, and health : an ethnography of a housing co-operative

• Main Author: Wasylishyn, Christine
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/4475

The purpose of this study was to describe the health beliefs, values, concerns, and health practices of women living on low income in a specific housing co-operative. The choice of this context controlled for some of the diversity which exists amongst poor women. The effect of a co-operative housing environment on the health of these women was also examined. Initially, an ethnographic method was proposed. When access for participant-observation was denied, the method was modified to include intensive interviews only. Ten volunteers were recruited out of the total population of thirty-six women. These women were interviewed individually (with one exception), using an unstructured format. The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, and analyzed for common themes. At the time of the study, the participants saw themselves as a diverse group lacking a common identity. They did acknowledge, however, that they shared a common history of "hard experiences." The findings revealed that, for these women, inherent in the experience of living on a low income is a sense of a lack of control. Limited finances result in fewer choices and decreased feelings of control over one's life. Consequently, health was defined for these women in terms of meeting basic needs such as safety and security. The participants identified their new environment as having both positive and negative health consequences. Acquiring stable, subsidized housing had reduced, although not eliminated, the stress of coping with limited finances. Initially, however, the new responsibilities associated with managing the co-operative, combined with adjusting to a community lifestyle, provided enough added stress that several women identified a significant deterioration in their health following the move. Since no research could be found which addresses the health of mature, unattached, low income women, this descriptive study represents a starting point for further research.