Medicalisation has been the subject of study by many sociologists since the 1960s, with the first main area of focus examining the medicalisation of deviance. The impact of medicine and medical concepts in the West have developed immensely over the past 50 years with the growth of medical authority and social implications around this topic…
Women’s Bodies
The Medicalisation of Sex Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Defined by the World Health Organisation (2018), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is the procedure of “intentionally altering or causing injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons”. The history of FGM is not clearly documented, but the practice of FGM dates back 2000 years (Fgmnationalgroup.org, 2019)….
Enhanced Bodies
According to Conrad (2007: 70), individuals have sought for enhancements for themselves and their children as long as they have noticed improvement. Strategies, techniques, or medicines are used to make individuals smarter, faster, stronger, live with keener senses and live longer (IBID). For example, parents get their children private tutoring or take them to after…
Men’s Bodies
As our lives become more and more medicalised, the focus on men’s bodies has increased. The female body has been the focus of much work relating to the sociology of the body and although this is still present, some focus has shifted to male bodies. Morgan (1993) points out that under systems of patriarchy men…
Conclusion
To conclude, the case studies mentioned in this blog support the idea that Illich’s (1976) notion of medical imperialism is still relevant and accurate today. The case studies show that medicalisation can benefit individuals within society such as the production of Viagra to help with erectile dysfunction. However, it could be argued that the government…
Medicalisation and Society 