Remarkable lives: Lígia Cardoso Baldé in conversation with Jerome Carson
| Date | 09 April 2018 |
| Pages | 72-77 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-02-2018-0008 |
| Published date | 09 April 2018 |
| Author | Lígia Cardoso Baldé,Jerome Carson |
Remarkable lives: Lígia Cardoso Baldé in
conversation with Jerome Carson
Lígia Cardoso Baldé and Jerome Carson
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Lígia Cardoso Baldé.
Design/methodology/approach –Lígia gives a biographical description of her life and is then interviewed
by Jerome.
Findings –Lígia talks about the stress of being a young single parent with a disabled son. She talks about
how she built up her resilience over several years.
Research limitations/implications –Thestory Lígia tells is one of battling against all the odds. Her account
shows how she had to manage without much external support, even from family.
Practical implications –Research has long demonstrated an association between life events and stress.
Lígia tells us about the various stressors that confronted her at different stages of her life journey.
Social implications –All of us can make a difference in peoples’lives if we make the effort. Lígia talks about
two doctors who knew the medical implications of her son’s condition, but who also recognised her
emotional needs and addressed those as well.
Originality/value –Lígia’s story is inspiring at so many levels. She has successfully adjusted to a different
culture, to a different language and has had to establish a new social support network. Now she is not just
surviving, but slowly thriving.
Keywords Culture, Diversity, Stress, Resilience, Education, Cerebral palsy
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Lígia is a mature student studying for a Masters in Positive Psychology. It was apparent both
throughher choice of topicin assignmentsand through her discussionsthat she was very interested
in the concept of disability. She tells us in her story that interest has been hugely influenced by her
experiences of caring for her own son, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Lígia has had to
overcome many barriers on her journey, but let her tell the story in her own words […].
Brief biography by Lígia Cardoso Baldé
I was born and bred in Portugal, Lisbon, in May of 1979 but I have an African background. My
parents were born in Guinee-Bissau and I have roots from Guinee-Conakry and Cape Verde.
I am the middle child, and have one older brother and a younger sister. I remember my childhood
surrounded by love and happiness from family and friends. However, my extended family was a
little more reserved and this stemmed from the fact my parents came from two different religions
and their marriage was never really accepted within their respective families. This also posed
cultural challenges and it was quite a difficult experience in maintaining the African culture as well
as adopting the Portuguese culture. I did not really have a close relationship with my mother, and
was unable to share thoughts and feelings with her about relationships or other “girl-related”
issues. This was particularly because my mother easily took offence at things that went against
her beliefs and values and my father was someone who was far too respected to be able to talk
to about personal matters.
Lígia Cardoso Baldé is based at
the Faculty of Wellbeing and
Social Sciences, University of
Bolton, Bolton, UK.
Jerome Carson is a Professor
of Psychology at the
Department of Psychology,
University of Bolton,
Bolton, UK.
PAG E 72
j
MENTALHEALTH AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
j
VOL. 22 NO. 2 2018, pp. 72-77, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2042-8308 DOI 10.1108/MHSI-02-2018-0008
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