Institutional Constructions of Medical Stigma and Its Perception by Multiply Body-Modified Individuals Seeking Treatment

ABSTRACT

In a recent research project on the lived experience of body modifiers—identified as those with piercings, tattoos, scarification/branding, and/or suspension/hook pull experiences—the researcher documents synergistic resistance on the part of participants, and the institutional review board. This dynamic reflects a long history of problematic academic publications. The real world impact of this is felt by those bearing modification that desire health care. Discussion focuses on post-colonial methods, snowball sampling, findings of institutionally constructed medical bias, and the first known reports of stigma impacting medical care delivery for those who have body modifications.

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Notes on contributors

Carolyn D. Keagy

CAROLYN D. KEAGY is a Senior Data Analyst at Kaiser Permanente focusing on survival analysis and advanced quantitative methods with SAS and Teradata. Her Ph.D. in Sociology was awarded by the University of California San Francisco from the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her research interests are high risk behaviors, trauma, body modification, coping, mixed methods, socioeconomic differences in health care delivery, and patient reported outcomes.