Health and IllnessHealth and illness underpin our everyday existence. Health allows us to live full lives and to function as social beings; illness disrupts our lives, sometimes seriously. But health not only affects individuals, it also impacts upon society as a whole. Medical breakthroughs and scandals, health scares and health service problems all vie for the attention of politicians and public alike. Michael Bury provides a lively introduction to the sociology of health and illness for students approaching the topic for the first time. Drawing on classic writings and up-to-date research, he discusses the conceptualization and patterning of health and illness in contemporary society. He highlights a range of factors, such as gender, age, ethnicity and class, which influence the occurrence and distribution of illness over time. The book then focuses on debates about the body, the role of health services and the politics of health policy. In conclusion, Bury argues that we must take a dynamic view of health and illness as processes that are shaped by social circumstances and altering perceptions. This short introduction will be essential reading for all students studying the sociology of health as part of their degree programme. |
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ADHD adult African Americans analysis Annandale approach Arber argued argument behaviour biological Blaxter bodily body British Medical Journal Bury cancer changes chapter chronic illness clinical complex concerning context cultural death disability discussion disorders doctors dynamic effects emphasis especially ethnic evidence example experience factors gender and health gender roles genetic groups health and illness health inequalities health outcomes health risks health services heart disease important improvement income individual inequalities in health influence interactions involved Irving Zola issues lifecourse linked London male Marmot McKeown medical model medical sociology medical treatment ment mental health mental illness MMR vaccine mortality noted obesity Open University particular patients patterning of health perspective population practitioners problems processes rates recent relation relationship role Routledge Science and Medicine seen social class society sociologists Sociology of Health symptoms tion Wadsworth Whilst women