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Paper Short Abstract:

In the Quebec context, women's choice to circumvent the limits of the biomedical system by adopting the holistic approach is reflected in their desire to assert their agentivity in their health and encourage the process of empowerment of their bodies.

Paper Abstract:

In an attitude of resistance to biomedical care in the West today, women are increasingly turning to a network of holistic medicines, including acupuncture, osteopathy, massage therapy and naturopathy. These practices consider the individual as a whole through psychological, physical, environmental and societal factors, etc., in order to offer the most comprehensive support possible. However, female therapists and users of holistic medicines have noted numerous comparisons between the biomedical and holistic approaches, which point to certain forms of limitation. For this reason, I propose to explore the ideological, economic and material limits of two healthcare systems, the biomedical and the holistic, according to female therapists and users of holistic medicines in Quebec today. Data collection includes seventeen interviews with holistic medicine female users, twelve interviews with female therapists, a participant observation of a sacred cocoa ceremony and a dataset based on online ethnography. Preliminary results suggest that, on the one hand, the choice of a holistic approach among female users stems mainly from a high level of disappointment with biomedical care. The reasons for this disappointment include a paternalistic attitude on the part of doctors and a failure to listen to women's experiences and feelings, particularly regarding menstrual health. On the other hand, female holistic therapists recognize the various forms of limitation inherent in both approaches to health, and so encourage collaboration for the health and well-being of individuals.