Article: “The Story of My Life”: AIDS and ‘Autobiographical Occasions’. Qualitative Sociology, 2008 31: 37-56
Summary:
Stories are an ubiquitous part of everyday communication. People use stories (narratives) to give color and context to changes in their lives or in the world, especially when it is a life changing event. In this article Leonard and Ellen recognize that the narratives given by women who are HIV positive and poor are often similar to the narratives told by institutions. They argue these narratives shape the women tell their story, even though the institutional stories may not fit the storylines of these women.