Exploring Disability: A Sociological Introduction

This is an exciting new introductory textbook for anyone studying disability. As well as providing an excellent overview of the existing literature in the area, the book also develops an understanding of disability that has implications for both sociology and society.Over the last three decades our understanding of disability has changed dramatically. Once perceived as a largely medical problem affecting only a small number of people, it is now regarded as a major social and political issue. Exploring Disability charts both the traditional and contemporary approaches to the area before focusing on the social model of disability. In a series of chapters, the authors then go on to look at the relationship between disabled people and areas such as medical sociology, disability studies, social policy, politics and culture. The book ends with an exploration of the future of theory and research on disability.Exploring Disability will be indispensable for students seeking to understand disability within sociology, disability studies, social policy, politics, cultural studies, and health-related disciplines including medicine.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction. 2. Understanding Disability. What a difference a decade makes! Developing a sociological imagination. Comparative and historical perspectives. A tale of two models. Sociological issues and approaches. Review. 3. Sociological Approaches to Chronic Illness and Disability. Sick role behaviour. Labelling theory. Experience of 'chronic illness and disability'. Medical and professional power. Medicalization. Towards a sociology of the disabled body? Review. 4. Enter Disability Theory. New ways of analysing disability. Developing a social theory of disability. Review. 5. Disabling Barriers. The disabled family. Education. Employment. Built environment, housing and transport. Review. 6. Social Policy and Disabled People. Disability and the welfare state. Social security policy. Social support in the community. Review. 7. Politics and Disability Politics. Politics and disabled people. Disability protest: a new social movement? Identity politics. Review. 8. Culture, Leisure and the Media. Sociological approaches to culture. Leisure and social life. Cultural representations of disability. Towards a disability culture. Review. 9. Advancing the Sociology of Disability. Theory: Out with the old and in with the new? Disabling research. Life chances. Moving forward. Bibliography. Index.

About the Author :
Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer are members of the Disability Research Unit, at the University of Leeds. Tom Shakespeare a member of the Department of Social Policy, at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Review :
"Disability studies have been ignored by mainstream sociology for far too long. This book will place them squarely on the academic agenda and is a must for all self-respecting sociologists." M. J. Oliver, University of Greenwich "This book makes a significant contribution to the developing theory of disability, and does not shy away from exploring the theoretical fuzziness that is commonly found in the field. Comprehensive in scope, the work both examines the issues involved in a socio-political social justice and rights approach to disability, and surveys the ideas of most of the key thinkers in this developing area." Marcia H. Rioux, Ph D, President, Roeher Institute "This is a very readable, scholarly, thoughtful and thought-provoking text, which should be a set book on disability studies courses, including those within sociology departments." Len Barton, Department of Educational Studies, University of Sheffield 'Exploring Disability provides a comprehensive introduction to the sociology of disability suggesting areas of enquiry that could be explored in greater depth ... This book provides a necessary foundation for developing a fuller understanding of ... areas within a sociological framework. In consequence it makes a significant contrbution to the discipline of sociology.' Sociology