Review
"The case studies, examples, questions that begin each chapter, moments when the author speaks personally - all go a considerable distance to capture attention and imagination, and offer the kind of concrete 'ways in' to broader topics that many students need". --Chris Sinding, McMaster
Book Description
A well-written, student friendly text, Health, Illness and Medicine in Canada provides students with insight into the issues surrounding the sociology of health, illness and medicine in Canada. Part one addresses the major sociological approaches of structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, feminist theory, and conflict theory. Part two shifts focus to more immediate issues relating to sociology of health and medicine - social inequity, disease, and death, while taking a first-hand look at the experience of being ill. This section also features a unique case study on women and cancer. Part three of the text is devoted to the sociology of medicine, and takes an extensive look at pertinent issues such as social constructs of scientific and medical knowledge and medical practice, medicalization, the medical profession, the roles of nurses and midwives in a changing health-care system, complementary and alternative medicine, and the medical-industrial complex.
