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* 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.
List of contents
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.
About the author
Carol Thomas is a sociologist who has a special academic and personal interest in disability. She is a Lecturer in Applied Social Science at Lancaster University, researching and publishing in a number of fields including: disability (especially disabled women's experiences), health inequalities, the social aspects of cancer and women's domestic labour.
Summary
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.
