Gender, Health and Healing

Gillian Bendelow, Mick Carpenter, Caroline Vautier and Simon Williams are all members of the Centre for Research in Health, Medicine and Society, University of Warwick.

• Introduction One: Biology 'Revisited' 1. New Genetics and New Eugenics: the Rise and Rise of Consumer Eugenics 2. Body Machines: Feminist Readings of the Biological Body 3. Rethinking the Biological: Reductionism, Constructionism and Beyond Two: Gender (in)Equality 4. Conceptualizing Gender and Health 5. Men Behaving Badly? The Theory and Practice of Gendered Approaches to Men's Health and Illness 6. Gender Equity in Health: A Challenge for the next Millennium Three: Human Reproduction 7. Alien Bodies and Genetic Technologies: Unintended Consequences and Responsible Ethics 8. Assessing the Infertile: Health Professionals' perceptions of the Suitability of Patients for Parenthood 9. Protection, Control or Interference: Lay and Professional views on the desirability and 'risks' of prenatal screening tests among Palestinian Women Four: Gender, 'Work' and the (Emotional) Division of Labour 10. Gender and the Politics of Professional Self-Regulation 11. The Gendering of Psychiatry 12. Emotions Across the Public / Private Divide 13. The Mediators: Mothers of Disabled Children and the Social Order Five: Ferment and Change 14. Health, Illness and the Troubled Issue of Informed Consent 15. Medical Uncertainty and the (Bio)Ethics Debate 16. Integrated Medicine 17. Health Medicine and Society at and into the Millennium Afterword Conclusions

'Of enormous importance and utility ... offers a chronicle of the past and signals pathways for the future.' - Charlie Reilly, Inter-American Foundation'This reviewer is clearly impressed with the quality of the ODI family of books: they get high marks for originality, scholarship and social utility - a rare combination in the development literature ... The bottom line: we have here important, attractive books with timely issues, rich documentation, realistic, practical advice. All in all, highly recommended.' - Thomas F. Carroll, Development Policy ReviewAnyone who worries that academic reflection on health and illness is detached from the messiness of experience, or removed from political and moral purpose, can take heart from this volume. Leaving aside the pleasures of fiction and poetry, it is the most enjoyable read I have had in recent months. And if you think I should get out more, get hold of a copy and see for yourself. Laura Potts Healthcare