‘I’m not a Schizophrenic!’ Qualitative Research on the Life Stories of Women Diagnosed with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder

Objective: Making the life stories of women diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder visible with a feminist social work approach. Material and Methods: In this study, narrative research with qualitative research method was used. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women who were selected according to the purposive sampling method. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis method and the MAXQDA 20 program. Results: In the content analysis of the data, three life focus themes emerged when the life stories of women with schizophrenia and bipolar diagnosis were analyzed according to the feminist social work perspective. These themes are especially the pre-diagnosis, diagnosis, and post-diagnosis experiences of women regarding their disease. In addiction to these themes, women’s future expectations and recommendations were also analyzed. Conclusion: When the life stories of women were analyzed, it was seen that they have been systematically exposed to the pressures of the patriarchal system from childhood to present. Gender-based role expectations, which started first in the family, continued increasingly in their married life. After being diagnosed with the disease, they selfstigmatized by isolating themselves from their social circles and had difficulties in participating in public life. The roles that they could not fulfill due to their diseases create pressure on women.