Nevertheless, she persisted : Australian women's experience of traumatic brain injury : a mixed method study

Abstract

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an unexpected catastrophic event in any person's life with far reaching impacts on everyday ordinary and extraordinary activities. Literature which acknowledges the interplay of biological and gendered differences on women's experience of TBI is limited. This study contributes to clinicians' understanding of TBI specifically for women, with the aim of improving rehabilitation and advocacy services for this population. The original contribution to knowledge this research makes is the unveiling of women's reticence and the perceived reticence of clinicians to discuss sexual health following TBI. The reticence is influenced by socialised norms which perpetuate continuing double standards between men and women and between the able and disabled regarding sexuality. An additional original contribution to knowledge which has emerged from this research is that the enduring persistence of the women in this study was indicative of tenacity rather than resilience. This was evident as Australian women in this study highlighted that adjusting to impairment following TBI was not transient. Women in this study identified a need for readjustment at substantive points in their lives such as change of employment, establishing relationships, caring for children, or ageing parents, divorce or moving to a new home. This finding reinforced that tenacity was a more applicable term as it describes the characteristic of perseverance across a woman's lifespan. The findings of this study highlight that there continues to be poor community literacy regarding TBI. In addition, the disabling impact of both visible and hidden impairment is not well understood. Recognising that negative responses to impairment add to marginalisation of people is an important first step in community education. Additionally, participants have identified that much of the negative stigma they have experienced comes from those very people who are in positions to support and help them. The weight of quiescent yet pervasive societal under-expectation loomed large in participants' lives. This research highlights that when gender and disability intersect, the experience of loss and realigning of self is complicated by a combination of patriarchal and ableist socialised cultural norms. Women sharing their experience of TBI offers a unique contribution to research as they highlight that socially constructed gendered norms continue to, at times, negatively inform delivery of health care. This thesis presents the remarkable tenacity demonstrated by the participants of this study.

Date of Award	2021
Original language	English