Duvet Woman versus Action Man: The Gendered Aetiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome According to English Newspapers

The media is a potent source of information and meanings where the unfamiliar and uncertain is concerned, this includes medical professionals. So portrayals of conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) are worthy of exploration in that they inform public and professional understandings. In the study reported here, we explore representations of CFS/ME within UK print media (1998-2015) using thematic analysis informed by a constructionist feminist perspective. We found that portrayals of CFS/ME differs meaningfully, depending on whether the sufferer is identified as a man or a woman. More specifically, the psychological and emotional tended to be foregrounded where women were concerned and the scepticism surrounding CFS/ME as a ‘non disease’ was much more evident. On some occasions this was dealt with directly, whilst on others it was ‘leaked in’ or hinted at. This serves to delegitimise the illness in women. In contrast, the physical was usually foregrounded in the case of men suffering from the condition and their experiences were accredited greater legitimacy. We problematize these representations and discuss the potential impact upon public and professional sympathy, treatment options and long-standing, gendered constructions of illness.