A Foucauldian analysis of Old Age and the Power of Social Welfare
Affiliation
Melbourne University; University of ChesterPublication Date
2001-06-01
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It is argued that the question of social welfare is a key, if often overlooked, component in the construction of power relations and identities in later life that can take its place next to debates on bioethics and consumer lifestyle. Foucault's (1977) claim, that identities are kept in place through the deployment of integrated systems of power and knowledge and a routine operation of surveillance and assessment, is critically examined in this context. Trends in social welfare in the United Kingdom are used as a case example that sheds light on wider contemporary issues associated with old age. Finally, implications for the creation of particular narratives about later life are discussed and grounded through Foucault's (1988) notion of "technologies of self."Citation
Biggs, S., & Powell, J. L. (2001). A Foucauldian analysis of old age and the power of social welfare. Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 12(2), 93-111Publisher
Haworth PressAdditional Links
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J031v12n02_06Type
ArticleLanguage
enISSN
0895-9420EISSN
1545-0821ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1300/J031v12n02_06