ABSTRACT
The mobilities turn has opened up a view of the complex relationships between mobilities and immobilities. One can see the relational nature of mobility and immobility in the works of Adey (2006 and 2007), Classen (2006) and Goffman (1961), where some are relatively mobile while others are relatively immobile. One can also look to the relational nature of those attempting mobility, in their relationships with technologies and infrastructures, where some configurations are possible, while others are highly constrained or not possible, depending on the unique circumstances of an individual and those they may attempt to team up with in order to be on the move together. One can go still further and consider the relational nature of mobilities required to address human needs, in the relationships people attempt to create, configure and reconfigure; where they team up with others, such as family and friends, in various ways, where one person within the configuration is immobile. This chapter is an investigation into the reliance mobilities of those who
lived immobile lives within iron lungs, and those who interacted with them such as family, friends and health care workers, in order to address needs. Needs as defined in this chapter include physical and social needs; for more background on attempting to connect with needs please consider Fisker (2011a) and Chapin (1974). The primary sources for this investigation are four books written by and about people who lived parts of their lives in iron lungs, with particular emphasis on the accounts of Mimi Rudulph (1984). The chapter begins by setting out the relational nature of mobilities, followed by insights into iron lung technology. The chapter then examines accounts of life in and around those living in iron lungs and concludes with a discussion on how this inquiry may be of benefit to those researching and planning housing, health care, social services and transportation systems for housebound seniors. This chapter contributes to mobilities turn theory by proposing a means of thinking about mobilities that are created, often with an intergenerational nature, configured and reconfigured in order to address the needs of those who are immobile and by introducing ‘reliance mobilities’ to the mobilities turn vocabulary.
