Reanimating the Body: Comics Creation as an Embodiment of Life with Cancer.

Cancer is regarded as a disease that redefines an individual's life and relationships. The medicalization and reclamation of the individual's sense of body, self, and social life have been long examined by psychiatry and anthropology alike. We argue that creating comics is a form of artistic narrative that affirms and proclaims the existence of a past and future possibilities for individuals diagnosed with cancer. Despite the interconnections among lived experience and meaning making, little attention has been paid to the potential therapeutic effects of comics creation. Individuals diagnosed with cancer were recruited for ten weekly comics making workshops. Data include qualitative interviews and workshop observations. Six women who were diagnosed with cancer consented to participate. Meaning making themes included (1) slowing down to process their experiences, (2) expressing frustration with medical encounters, and (3) reflecting on traumatic relationships. The process of redefining their cancer experience connects the sufferer's individual and social context. We find that the physical act of 'making' comics works to create meaning and an embodied expression of meaning. Creating comics, for our participants, offered multiple entry points and perspectives for redefining their stories that provided new insights and paths to explore their medical traumas and reanimating their bodies.

Living the reality of forced sex work: perspectives from young migrant women sex workers in northern Vietnam.

Young women are often lured or forced into selling sex as a result of migrating from rural to urban areas to find work. In this setting, they are exposed to high-risk situations, which may leave them vulnerable to exploitation. Using interviews with young migrant women currently working as sex workers in northern Vietnam, we recorded the perspectives of their initiation into sex work and life as a sex worker. The study found that high levels of forced sex and sexual exploitation were experienced by the majority of the young women interviewed. The young women describe their entry into sex work, first sexual experience (intercourse), violence, and condom negotiation and use. Although access to health care was available, the young women perceived the stigma attached to sex work as a barrier to receiving health care, and thus, preferred health education and care from peers. Health education programs focusing on peer education and support are essential for protecting and empowering these young women. In addition, policies and programs must work toward effective strategies to protect young migrant women.