An introduction to the sociology of health and illness

Introduction; The social construction of medical knowledge; The development of the sociology of health; Post-modernity, epidemiology and neoliberalism; Materialist approaches to the sociology of health; Parsons, American sociology of medicine and the sick hole; Foucault and the sociology of medical knowledge; Health, gender and feminism; Race, ethnicity and health; Conclusion

Written with a truly sociological and critical perspective, and thoroughly updated to include the latest cutting-edge thinking in the area, the new edition is packed with new empirical examples. Updates to content include: * A whole new section on Fleck, 'Thought Styles after Fleck' * A new section on 'Transformations of the Medical Profession' Incorporating helpful learning features including chapter overviews, boxed cases, summaries and further reading, An Introduction to the Sociology of Health and Illness is a stimulating and thought-provoking essential text for students in health, nursing and sociology schools.