Objective:

Analyze the gender experience of living with colon cancer colostomy, the study of the differences in social relations between men and women and the spaces lived during the disease are transcendental for intervention in care, the theory of feminism gives theoretical support to analyze the traces of differences and similarities from the meaning of being a woman or man with colostomy.

Material and methods:

A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted with eight participated subjects, in- depth interviews were conducted at their home, non-participating observation and field notes.

Results:

Women live the disease in private space, while men fight and live-in public space and little time in the private. The woman makes narrative to her subjectivity in which she lives the colostomy, accepts and continues her life, the man fights for the representation of her role of strength in public and private space.

Conclusions:

Male standards are affected by carrying a colostomy and there are life experiences that must be solved in the public and in the private. While women or femineity develop with a role of commitment and responsibility not to get sick or stay active caring for their family.

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