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Give incivility a chance

Give incivility a chance

Essex, Ryan ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3497-3137 and Mainey, Lydia (2023) Give incivility a chance. Journal of Medical Ethics. ISSN 0306-6800 (Print), 1473-4257 (Online) (doi:10.1136/jme-2023-109336)

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Abstract

While it is nice to be nice, we should be careful in dismissing incivility entirely as is argued by McCullough, et. al. (2023). In this article we will argue that incivility, when conceptualised politically as a form of resistance has democratic value. That is, some types of incivility are not only justified, but can serve important ends, especially for oppressed groups. Several historical examples as they relate to health and healthcare speak to this point. The uncivil behaviour by Emma Goldman, imprisoned after publicly promoting birth control, to those challenging racism in healthcare are two of many examples that highlight the instrumental and symbolic value of incivility, in both forcing political change and saying something that could not otherwise be said ‘civilly’.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: civility; incivility; resistance; protest; health
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
R Medicine > RT Nursing
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group: Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences
Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Chronic Illness and Ageing
Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Professional Workforce Development
Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > School of Health Sciences (HEA)
Last Modified: 02 Aug 2023 08:19
URI: http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/43121

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