An Introduction to the Sociology of Health and Illness

An Introduction to the Sociology of Health and Illness
ISBN-10
1847877133
ISBN-13
9781847877130
Series
An Introduction to the Sociology of Health and Illness
Category
Social Science
Pages
196
Language
English
Published
2002-03-26
Publisher
SAGE
Author
Dr Kevin White

Description

The main purpose of this book is to demonstrate that disease is socially produced and distributed. Becoming sick and unhealthy is not the result of individual misfortune or an accident of nature. It is a consequence of the social, political and economic organization of society. In developing this thesis, the author systematically introduces students to the major sociological explanations of the role and functions of medical explanations of disease. The book situates the student securely in the literature and provides a guide to the strengths and weaknesses of the major sociological approaches. It draws out the essential features of the major sociological contributions and elucidates how an appreciation of the dynamics of class, gender, ethnicity and the sociology of knowledge challenges medical power.

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