Medicalisation describes a process by which non-medical problems become defined and treated as medical problems, usually in terms of illness and disorders (Conrad. 2007). Behaviours once described as immoral, sinful or criminal have been given medical meaning, moving them from badness to sickness (Conrad. 2007). Ivan Illich (1976) a radical cultural critic and philosopher, explains…
Men’s Bodies
‘Masculinity’ ‘The academic study of ‘masculinity’ has burgeoned over the last 25 years. During the same period, the sociological concept of ‘medicalisation’ has been developed and deployed to explore the role that medicine and the health professions play as agents of social control.’(Rosenfeld, 2007). With this in mind within society today there has been a…
Medicalisation of Sex: FGM and Designer Vagina’s
Women’s and girl’s bodies are often a site of social control by the medical establishment and this has led to a medicalisation of sex in many forms from cultural practices of FGM to contemporary accounts of designer vagina, all of which to ‘improve’ the body and to create a new ‘normality’ of the vagina. Female…
Criminal and Deviant Bodies
The term ‘criminal and deviant’ can be considered a phrase, which describes a type of behaviour that can be seen as unacceptable within today’s society. Morrall (2009) claims that ‘agencies of the state and the media promote ideological messages which represent a ‘normative’ set of values, which the ‘good citizen’ is expected to follow. Those…
Conclusion
The case studies discussed suggest the Illich’s theory of medical imperialism remains relevant in today’s society. It is clear that the dominance of medicalisation regulates everyday behaviour of individuals and emphasis is placed upon the concepts of ‘deviance’ and ‘normality’. Illich’s (1975) theory of medical imperialism is supported through the medicalisation of men’s bodies specifically…
Health and Social Care 2019 