170 Pages
    by Routledge

    170 Pages
    by Routledge

    Written in a clear, accessible style, Health introduces students to the valuable contribution sociologists have made to understanding health, illness and disease. In so doing, it challenges the adequacy of biomedical models, contrasting them with explanations offered by positivist, interactionist, structuralist and feminist sociologists.

    Aggleton, an experienced teacher, links the key debates within the sociology of health and illness with their implications for health care, and covers topics such as complementary medicine and AIDS. Students are encouraged to undertake suggested activities and are given guidance for further reading to develop their understanding.

    List of illustrations, Preface, 1. Defining health, 2. Measuring health, 3. Explaining health, 4. Social-positivist explanations, 5. Interactionist explanations, 6. Structuralist explanations, 7. Perspectives on health policy, References, Index

    Biography

    Peter Aggleton is Reader in Education at Goldsmiths' College, University of London. He has worked extensively in health and health promotion and has taught sociology to students in adult, further and higher education.