main product photo

Female Forms

1st Edition
0335232965 · 9780335232963
What is the relevance of feminist ideas for understanding women's experiences of disability?How can the social model of disability be developed theoretically?What are the key differences between Disability Studies and medical sociology?In answer to t… Read More
To discover purchase options, please click the 'Request Review Access' button above and complete the form.
After you purchase your eBook, you will need to download VitalSource Bookshelf, a free app. Then login or create an account and enter the code from your order confirmation email to access your eBook.
  • Access the eBook anytime, anywhere: online or offline
  • Create notes, flashcards and make annotations while you study
  • Full searchable content: quickly find the answers you are looking for
Series editor's preface
Introduction

Part one: Defining disability

Defining disability
the social model
Defining disability
a definitional riddle
Disability and the social self

Part two: Female forms

Disability and feminist perspectives
the personal and the political
Disability and gender
Wherein lies the difference?

Part three: Understanding disability

Theorizing disability and impairment
Disability Studies and medical sociology
Chapter notes
References
Index.

  • What is the relevance of feminist ideas for understanding women's experiences of disability?
  • How can the social model of disability be developed theoretically?
  • What are the key differences between Disability Studies and medical sociology?
In answer to these questions, this book explores and develops ideas about disability, engaging with important debates in disability studies about what disability is and how to theorize it. It also examines the interface between disability studies, women's studies and medical sociology, and offers an accessible review of contemporary debates and theoretical approaches. The title Female Forms reflects two things about the book: first, its use of disabled women's experiences, as told by themselves, to bring a number of themes to life, and second, the author's belief in the importance of feminist ideas and debates for disability studies. The social model of disability is the book's bedrock, but the author both challenges and contributes to social modelist thought. She advances a materialist feminist perspective on disability, producing a book which is of multi-disciplinary relevance.

Female Forms will be useful to the growing number of students on Disability Studies courses, as well as those interested in women's studies, medical sociology and social policy. It will also appeal to those studying or working in the health and social care professions such as nursing, social work, occupational therapy and physiotherapy.