PMID: 9160446May 1, 1997Paper

The misconstruction of critical medical anthropology: a response to a cultural constructivist critique

Social Science & Medicine
Hans A Baer

Abstract

Since its emergence over a decade ago as a distinct theoretical framework, critical medical anthropology (CMA) has engaged in debate and dialogue with various other perspectives within medical anthropology, particularly clinical anthropology, medical ecology, and, to a lesser degree, postmodernism. While at least two genres of CMA have emerged, both of which are involved in a dialogue with each other, proponents of other perspectives often misread or "misconstruct" the agenda of CMA as both a theoretical framework and a strategy for health activism. This essay in particular critiques this process among proponents of the interpretative or cultural constructivist perspective. On a positive note, however, I urge critical medical anthropologists and cultural constructivists within medical anthropology to enter into a dialogue with each other because their two perspectives, despite the presence of obvious epistemological differences, share commonalities.

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Citations

Apr 20, 2011·The Nursing Clinics of North America·Joan Engebretson
May 20, 2011·Sociology of Health & Illness·Zixue Tai, Tao Sun
Nov 20, 2013·Medical Anthropology Quarterly·Tracy J AndrewsL LaVern Matthews
Dec 23, 2014·Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services·Mance E ButtramSteven P Kurtz
Aug 3, 2013·Psychology, Health & Medicine·Mance E ButtramSteven P Kurtz
Apr 17, 2010·Global Public Health·Mark B PadillaKirk Fiereck
May 7, 2002·Journal of Transcultural Nursing : Official Journal of the Transcultural Nursing Society·L DeSantis
May 27, 2008·Qualitative Health Research·Judy Yuen-man Siu
Jul 7, 2012·Qualitative Health Research·Ann M Cheney
Apr 24, 2009·Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics : JERHRE·Kristen Jacklin, Phyllis Kinoshameg
Nov 19, 2008·Medical Anthropology Quarterly·Sigal Gooldin

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