Self-Rehabilitation Through Dance: An Ethnographic Study on Candy Girls Breast Cancer Survivor Group in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

IF 0.3 Q3 AREA STUDIES
Premalatha A P Thiagarajan, Mohammad Khairi Mokthar
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study intends to examine a breast cancer survivor group called the Candy Girls. Candy Girls comprises 26 to 30 women (aged between 40 and 73 years), who are breast cancer survivors in the post-clinical phase. They all have successfully undergone various combinations of treatment such as lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy for breast cancer and are on the path to recovery and post-recovery. In 2010, this group came together for a year-long research conducted by the Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Medicine through the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Realising the benefits of exercise for the well-being of cancer survivors, Candy Girls decided to continue dancing on their own even after the completion of the research study. With the support of breast surgeons at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), this group began a weekly three-hour self-administered exercise session, that is still, to this day, taking place every Saturday. Their activities focus primarily on dance. The group gradually expanded dance genres by incorporating line dance, Latin dances-based Zumba sessions, Malay folk dance forms such as joget and zapin, and Bollywood dance. While the multi-ethnic women are determined to stay healthy and happy through their weekly dance routines, they have made significant impact on women at large by performing dances at Breast Cancer Relays, Awareness Campaigns and Health Conferences. By engaging with this community of survivors, the researchers have not only been able to observe their activities but also to support them through additional yoga and dance trainings. The act of giving back to the community has further strengthened the researchers' relationship with the study subjects and has allowed deeper engagement with the community. This ethnographic research shows that dance as self-rehabilitation, not only enhances physical mobility and emotional well-being, but forges a strong group solidarity among the women as a much-needed support system for survivors.
通过舞蹈自我康复:马来西亚吉隆坡糖果女孩乳腺癌幸存者群体的人种志研究
这项研究旨在调查一个被称为“糖果女孩”的乳腺癌幸存者群体。糖果女孩由26至30名妇女(年龄在40至73岁之间)组成,她们是乳腺癌临床后阶段的幸存者。她们都成功地接受了乳房肿瘤切除术、乳房切除术、乳腺癌放疗和化疗等各种治疗组合,并正在康复和康复后的道路上。2010年,马来亚大学医学院通过康复医学系进行了为期一年的研究。意识到锻炼对癌症幸存者的好处后,糖果女孩们决定在研究结束后继续自己跳舞。在马来亚大学医学中心(UMMC)乳房外科医生的支持下,这个小组开始每周进行三小时的自我管理锻炼,直到今天仍然是每周六进行。他们的活动主要集中在舞蹈上。该团体逐渐扩大了舞蹈类型,加入了排舞、以拉丁舞为基础的尊巴舞、joget和zapin等马来民间舞蹈形式,以及宝莱坞舞蹈。虽然多民族妇女决心通过每周的舞蹈活动保持健康和快乐,但她们通过在乳腺癌接力赛、提高认识运动和保健会议上表演舞蹈,对广大妇女产生了重大影响。通过与这个幸存者社区的接触,研究人员不仅能够观察他们的活动,还可以通过额外的瑜伽和舞蹈训练来支持他们。回馈社区的行为进一步加强了研究人员与研究对象的关系,并允许更深入地参与社区。这项人种学研究表明,舞蹈作为自我康复,不仅可以增强身体活动能力和情感健康,还可以在女性之间建立强大的群体团结,作为幸存者急需的支持系统。
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来源期刊
Kajian Malaysia
Kajian Malaysia AREA STUDIES-
CiteScore
0.60
自引率
0.00%
发文量
26
审稿时长
20 weeks
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