Distress in Caregivers of Dependent Older People in a Rural Context in Tlaxcala, Mexico; Malestares en cuidadoras de personas adultas mayores dependientes en un contexto rural de Tlaxcala, México

In: Revista CS: en ciencias sociales = CS Journal, Heft 35, S. 67-97

Abstract

Based on the experiences of women caregivers, we reflect in this paper on the discomforts and the symptoms that arise from them, which they associate with caregiving, considering that the inequalities of caring are centered in specific sociocultural contexts. A qualitative methodology with topic narrative research design is used. The data collection was done through in-depth interviews. One of the contradictions of caregiving is that women feel the duty to take care of another person, and in this way, they normalize it. Considering the findings of this study, it seems that in rural Mexico, female caregivers have no choice: in a patriarchal sex-gender system it is only possible to resist the overwhelming burden of caregiving through love and gratitude, regardless of taking care of themselves.