Compliance, Shame, Resentment, and Awakening: A Critical Examination of Women’s Illness Narratives About Cervical Erosion

Cervical erosion has historically been perceived as a severe gynecological condition in China, with its evocative nomenclature conjuring images of decay and moral transgression. Despite recent terminological revisions, the condition remains deeply stigmatized and is frequently exploited within a profit-driven healthcare market. This study employed a critical approach to analyze illness narratives related to cervical erosion as expressed on Sina Weibo, China's preeminent microblogging platform. Our findings extended Frank's illness narrative typology by uncovering a spectrum of narratives, including compliance, shame, resentment, and awakening. While compliance and shame narratives tended to reinforce biomedical authority and perpetuate structural inequities, the emergence of resentment and awakening narratives exposed instances of structural gaslighting and nascent embodied resistance among women. Ultimately, this study illuminates how traditional Chinese cultural values and neoliberal medicalization jointly shape women's health experiences, offering critical insights for fostering more transparent and culturally responsive healthcare practices.