Living with Epilepsy in a Gendered Society: A Case Study from Urban Muzaffarabad (AJ&K)

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects beyond seizures, but also affects the social, emotional, and cultural aspects of a person's life. This study was intended to explore the connection between gender roles and epilepsy and how the gender roles defined by culture affect individuals' experiences and capabilities of coping living with epilepsy. The study involved young men and women from urban female and male patients living in District Muzaffarabad of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, looking specifically into how epilepsy affects daily functioning, emotional expression, family roles and social inclusion. A descriptive qualitative method developed for documentary studies was used by interviewing 11 participants (6 males, 5 females) in open-ended, semi-structured interviews. Findings indicated very different gendered responses to living with epilepsy, where women have family-based emotional support, but find difficulties when it comes to marriage and motherhood, as well as stigma. In contrast, men, must maintain an emotional silence due to societal pressures of toughness and ruggedness, so psychological burdens remain unexpressed and unexamined. By recording their experiences, these findings bring attention to the social inequalities that stem from gendered responses to epilepsy that amplify the effects of having a chronic illness. They have implications for designing gender-sensitive health care policy, as well as culturally relevant interventions and support for those living with epilepsy.