Doing moral work
Subtitle: a critical analysis of living with HIV
By: by Robert Nicholas Travers.
Published: 2006
Language: eng
Number of pages: 200
ISBN-13: 9780494159170
Description: HIV/AIDS emerged at a time when the nature of society was being redrawn into a broader neo-liberal political rationality, and fundamental questions about 'who is responsible for individual health' were being asked. As such, HIV/AIDS emerged within a paradigm of responsibility. This dissertation is concerned with how a broad range of neo-liberal values (including 'risk', being responsible, self-reliant, and contributing to society) impact the lives of people living with HIV (PHAs). The data for this dissertation were drawn from a larger study of PHAs in the Hamilton, Ontario region. The narratives of nineteen PHAs were used and were analyzed using Foucault's 'governmentality' theory. Utilizing the concept of 'moral work'---a general life comportment characterized by a cluster of ways of thinking, behaving and acting---this dissertation shows that the ways in which PHAs 'carry out of their lives' is intimately linked to the neo-liberal principles of individual responsibility and self-reliance. The concept of 'moral work' is used to describe the everyday health-related activities engaged in by PHAs, including being vigilant about all aspects of their health, listening to experts, and modifying their lifestyles. Then, the concept of moral work is used to describe the everyday life-related activities of PHAs, including taking responsibility for their HIV infection, protecting others from the burden of their disease, and making contributions to society. Finally, the concept of moral work is applied to the work that is done on the 'self' to be a responsible and good PHA. The implications of this moral work for subjectivity are considered.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: B, page: 3743.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toronto, 2006.

Includes bibliographic references.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.