M6: Medicalization

Question 1

What is Medicalization?

Answer 1

‘Medicalization’: process by which non-medical problems become defined and treated as medical issues, usually in terms of illnesses, disorders, or syndromes

Deviation from certain behaviours, expectations and ‘norms’ become defined and treated as illness or a medical phenomenon

Key roles played by medical professionals, pharmaceutical industry, consumer groups, biotech discoveries, health insurance = “engines of medicalization”

Both good and bad implications

Question 2

Medicalization and Social Construction

Answer 2

Many aspects of daily life = medical issues

Defining natural biological processes as something that requires pharmaceutical, surgical, or therapeutic intervention

• ‘norms’ = youth, vitality, performance, appearance

Identification and classification required to become a legitimate ‘illness’ – i.e. medicalization is an example and manifestation of social construction

Question 3

‘Medicalization from above, by coercion’

Answer 3

• Pathologize normal everyday functioning
• Diminish our tolerance for, and appreciation of, the diversity of human life
• ‘normal’, ‘expected’, ‘acceptable’ increasingly being defined by biomedicine and pharma companies
• Unduly reinforce gender norms

Question 4

Medicalization for different genders?

Answer 4

Height, Hair, Physique, Erectile Dysfunction, Teeth, Skin,

Question 5

What is De-medicalization?

Answer 5

De-medicalization: an issue once defined in medical terms is no longer defined as such, and medical intervention is considered inappropriate (masturbating)

Examples?

• Childbirth = a contested zone (fetal monitoring, ultrasounds routine even in low-risk cases)
• Case in point for social construction of illness and disease

Question 6

What are Potential benefits of medicalization?

Answer 6

• ‘medicalization from below, by choice’
• Broadening of pre-existing medical categories to include more potential sufferers and situations, legitimate conditions as real rather than imaginary
  -> ADHD, ED, PMS, PTSD, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome
• Promote medical intervention as positive and necessary for health and well-being
  -> Alcoholism, mental disorders, substance use, gambling, mental health
• Reduce individual blame for problem

Question 7

Summary of Medicalization

Answer 7

Question 8

M6: Summary

Answer 8

• Theory: Symbolic interactionism
• Key concepts: Social construction; Stigma; Medicalization
• ‘Normality’ and ‘deviance’ are neither objective nor obvious, but are social constructions that emerge in particular social and political contexts
• They reflect the views of powerful groups in society; means by
  which dominant groups can exercise control over others