Sociology of the Body: Chronic Illness and Disability

1
Sociology of the Body Chronic Illness and
Disability

• Chapter 10

2
Main points

• Perceptions of the body, what we do with our
  bodies, how the body is regulated, for example,
  are all influenced by society.
• A morality is attached to the presentation of the
  body in contemporary society.
• Chronic illness leads to biographical
  disruption, where the taken-for-granted
  aspects of life and identity are thrown into
  question.
• The medical model of disability locates the
  causes of disability in the individual body.
• The social model of disability locates the causes
  of disability as a form of social oppression and
  discrimination.

3
The body in sociology

• Important for our identity
• Demographic changes
• Prevalence of chronic illness
• Consumerism
• Technological changes (Nettleton and Watson 1998)

4
The body is both a biological and social entity
Biology
Society
5
Chronic illness (Bury 1991)

• Biographical disruption the destabilisation and
  questioning of identity after the onset of
  chronic illness.
• Impact of treatment regimens the affective and
  technical aspects of treatment.
• Adaptation and management of illness dealing
  with stigma and presenting as normal.

6
Whats in a name?

• Cripple, handicapped, disabled person, person
  with disability etc.
• Language reflects power issues in society.
• Names and labels can stigmatise and exclude
  minority groups (Goffman 1968)

7
Medical model of disability

• Disability seen as
• located in the individual
• a tragedy
• needing professional help (Oliver 1990)

8
Social model of disability

• Disability seen as a consequence of
• social attitudes
• design
• lack of civil rights (Oliver 1990)