One of my patrons is attemping to apply Talcott Parson's ( a sociologist) 4 points of the "sick role" model to gender and illness i.e. how men and women perceive illness and respond differently. She was told that Parsons had written about this but I failed to find anything he had written which speaks specifically of gender. I realize this is not a medical query but perhaps someone out there has some insight or might have more intimate knowledge of this field... Well it's a long shot...but... Any help or ideas appreciated...... J +++++++++++++++++ Joan M. Santiago * Farrar Library* Clarke Division Centre for Addiction & Mental Health 250 College St. Toronto, ON CANADA M5T 1R8 Tel : 416-979-6824* 6817(fax) [log in to unmask] http://www.clarke-inst.on.ca/farrar_library/