Social theory and aging
By: Jason L. Powell.
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.; Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Lanham, Md
Language: eng
Number of pages: 157
Subjects: Gerontology -- Philosophy.; Aging.; Postmodernism.
Description: "Social Theory and Aging is a new work that explores both conceptual and theoretical issues that impinge on our understanding of aging in postmodern society. Jason L. Powell analyzes how knowledge formation of aging is socially constructed and positioned by powerful assumptions that are often taken for granted. He demonstrates how assumptions of aging have provided a power and knowledge base for bio-medical disciplines, the legitimacy of political economic discourses, and practices of professional experts, and questions these suppositions by introducing modernist scientific models and theories of gerontology as well as mapping out alternative postmodern deconstructions of aging."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: The relationship of social theory and aging: a critical exegesis; title: Modern constructions of aging; title: Occidental modernity, the bio-medical gaze and aging; title: Theorizing aging: critical explorations of modernist sociological approaches; title: Postmodern deconstructions of aging; title: Postmodernism, culture and aging body; title: The 'foucault effect' and aging: relations of power, surveillance and governmentality; title: Aging in the 'risk society'; title: Conclusion: reconstructions of aging.