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S Migliore

Publications and source records attributed to S Migliore.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

From illness narratives to social commentary: a Pirandellian approach to "nerves".

The concept of "nerves" is an integral component of the language of distress found in a number of societies. Individuals, however, often extend its meaning well beyond the realm of suffering. In this article, I examine some Sicilian-Canadian uses of "nerves" from a Pirandellian perspective. This, I believe, gives us an insight into how people (1) make use of illness narratives to give meaning to their life experiences, and (2) attempt to influence the thought and behavior of significant others. In the process, I address the question how do we move away from anthropological definitions and explanations that tend to simplify or mask some of the rich complexities surrounding the meaning(s) of "folk" concepts?

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PubMed1994

Gender, emotion, and physical distress: the Sicilian-Canadian "nerves" complex.

Researchers identify "nerves" as an idiom of distress, an illness category, a metaphorical device capable of communicating social distress, and a technique for impression management. Much of the literature, however, links "nerves" to women. In this paper, I address two aspects of the phenomenon which have received limited attention. First, I discuss "nerves" within the context of Sicilian-Canadian conceptions of anatomy and physiology. Sicilian-Canadians regard "nerves" as essential components of the human anatomy which, in some cases, may be linked to both physical and psychic distress. Second, I build on this discussion to examine how Sicilian-Canadian males make use of the "nerves" idiom. The implications of my work include the need to: (1) modify our definition of "nerves" to recognize formally that we are dealing with a dynamic complex consisting of multiple, variable, and ambiguous meanings--meanings that enable people to confront or cope with a variety of situations; (2) direct greater attention to "nerves" as an idiom of physical distress; and, (3) examine further the role of physical "nerves" in the social construction of gender.

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PubMed1989

Punctuality, pain and time-orientation among Sicilian-Canadians.

Southern Italians, including immigrants residing in North America, are often labeled as having a present time-orientation. This notion, in turn, has been used as an explanation for diverse phenomena commonly attributed to southern Italians--such as 'arriving late for appointments'; 'seeking immediate relief from the sensation of pain'; and, generally displaying 'a high degree of emotion and expression in their illness behavior'. Labeling an entire group of people as having a particular time-orientation, however, may generate stereotypes that affect negatively the type of medical treatment patients receive. In this paper, I challenge the unsubstantiated notion that southern Italians are present time-oriented. The data I have collected among Sicilian-Canadians indicates that there are alternative explanations for the phenomena people commonly attribute to southern Italians. I will support my contention by examining: (1) Sicilian-Canadian conceptions of punctuality; and, (2) the communicative dimension of the pain experience.

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