Anthony Giddens
structuration, drug use, food choice and long-term illness
pp. 424-438
in: Fran Collyer (ed), The Palgrave handbook of social theory in health, illness and medicine, Berlin, Springer, 2015Abstract
Anthony Giddens is one of the world's most authoritative and widely cited social theorists. Having started his career writing about classical social theory, he has developed a new sociological lexicon, ranging from structuration theory to social reflexivity the recursive character of action, ontological security and late modernity. This chapter focuses on the application of Giddens' theoretical contribution to the field of sociology of health and illness. It begins with a brief summary of Giddens' academic life and career before describing his theory of structuration and the concept of social reflexivity. The chapter then considers the relevance of Giddens' theoretical framework to the sociology of health and illness, by illustrating its use in three main areas of empirical research: prescribed drug use, food choices and eating practices, and long-term illness. Finally, the potential of Giddens' theoretical contribution for sociology of health is assessed.
