Alex Dumas

Older women's relations to bodily appearance : the embodiment of social and biological conditions of existence

Our purpose in this paper is to explore and deepen the understanding of older women’s relations to bodily appearance by looking at two different conditions of existence. Recent research has touched on the experiences of older women in societies with youthful norms of beauty, but the diversity of older women’s experiences has been little explored, and there has been little dialogue between theoretical writing and empirical research on the topic. It was therefore decided to conduct an empirical study of older women’s relations to bodily appearance, applying Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological theory and particularly the concept of habitus to the body. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 51 francophone women aged 65 to 75 years from working-class and affluent

The life-extension project: a sociological critique

Abstract In this article we explore and critically assess recent developments in biogerontology which promise a delaying of the ageing process in human beings through some form of significant ‘life-extension’. Various arguments for prolonging the human life span are being discussed intensely in the biomedical sciences: sociology has yet to make a tangible contribution to these debates. Although significant modifications to the human lifespan remain a futuristic goal, we argue that the life-extension project has immediate repercussions for contemporary society. Drawing on the available literature in the humanities and the social sciences, we discuss the value of the life-extension project and its social justice, human rights and ethical implications. For example, we consider, assuming the presence of economic scarcity, various aspects of increasing social inequality which would arise from any significant growth in life expectancy. We argue that this form of biomedical research has potentially far greater negative consequences for the status of humans than has been previously recognised, and conclude with a consideration of the religious and ethical implications of ‘prolongevity’.

Skateparks as a health‐resource: are they as dangerous as they look?

Skateboarding raises an interesting dilemma in the field of health promotion. While public health institutions are engaged in unprecedented efforts to counter the sedentary lifestyles of youth, the promotion of lifestyle sports and active leisure practices, such as skateboarding, is tempered by the potential risks of injuries. The health‐risks associated with skateboarding have generally been viewed through the lens of epidemiology. Sociology, on the other hand, has yet to provide research on injuries that meshes with this literature. This paper addresses this absence by drawing on the works of Pierre Bourdieu to present a different perspective on the health benefits and injuries associated with skateparks. Using his concepts of ‘physical capital’ and ‘social capital’, the analysis consists of 388 days of observation (mean of 35 days in 11 skateparks) and 23 in‐depth interviews with male and female skaters in Montreal, Canada. Its findings indicate that few serious injuries occurred in these skateparks and that these spaces do not correspond to the image depicted of skateboarding in previous research. From this, we suggest that skateparks should be conceived as a valuable health‐resource for youth because they provide various social, psychological and physical resources that encourage a safe and active lifestyle.

Lifestyle Interventions Targeting Body Weight Changes during the Menopause Transition: A Systematic Review

Objective. To determine the effectiveness of exercise and/or nutrition interventions and to address body weight changes during the menopause transition. Methods. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using electronic databases, grey literature, and hand searching. Two independent researchers screened for studies using experimental designs to evaluate the impact of exercise and/or nutrition interventions on body weight and/or central weight gain performed during the menopausal transition. Studies were quality appraised using Cochrane risk of bias. Included studies were analyzed descriptively. Results. Of 3,564 unique citations screened, 3 studies were eligible (2 randomized controlled trials, and 1 pre/post study). Study quality ranged from low to high risk of bias. One randomized controlled trial with lower risk of bias concluded that participation in an exercise program combined with dietary interventions might mitigate body adiposity increases, which is normally observed during the menopause transition. The other two studies with higher risk of bias suggested that exercise might attenuate weight loss or weight gain and change abdominal adiposity patterns. Conclusions. High quality studies evaluating the effectiveness of interventions targeting body weight changes in women during their menopause transition are needed. Evidence from one higher quality study indicates an effective multifaceted intervention for women to minimize changes in body adiposity.

Statecraft and Soulcraft: Foucault on Prolonging Life

This chapter presents a brief overview of the importance that prolongevism, the social movement based on the popular ideology that life can be prolonged more or less indefinitely by modern medical interventions, has taken in society by critically evaluating its objectives and its social and personal consequences. In developing this analysis we will primarily refer to the works of Michel Foucault and to other scholars who have applied his theory to the human body. Although Foucault’s work has had a significant impact on sociology, including the sociology of health and illness, his relevance to the study of ageing and the life-extension project has yet to be fully explored.

Anti-normative lifestyles in cardiac rehabilitation: Underprivileged men's post-heart incident lives.

Cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of premature mortality and disability. Although health institutions have developed and promoted cardiac rehabilitation programs, they have not attained their desired outcomes, especially among the most vulnerable groups of the population. This study qualitatively examines socially and materially deprived men’s (n = 20) noncompliance with cardiovascular health guidelines following a medical intervention to the heart. By drawing on Pierre Bourdieu’s sociocultural theory of practice, results indicate that precarious living conditions obstruct long-term physical recovery and illness prevention by underemphasizing the value of “health capital” and reducing the capacity to sustain lifestyle change. This study calls into question health policies that have little to no consideration of embodied practical knowledge and lived experiences.

Vulnerability, diversity and scarcity: on universal rights

This article makes a contribution to the on-going debates about universalism and cultural relativism from the perspective of sociology. We argue that bioethics has a universal range because it relates to three shared human characteristics,—human vulnerability, institutional precariousness and scarcity of resources. These three components of our argument provide support for a related notion of ‘weak foundationalism’ that emphasizes the universality and interrelatedness of human experience, rather than their cultural differences. After presenting a theoretical position on vulnerability and human rights, we draw on recent criticism of this approach in order to paint a more nuanced picture. We conclude that the dichotomy between universalism and cultural relativism has some conceptual merit, but it also has obvious limitations when we consider the political economy of health and its impact on social inequality.

Lifestyle Inequalities: Explaining Socioeconomic Differences in Preventive Practices of Clinically Overweight Women After Menopause

Excess weight and menopause are two major factors increasing aging women’s vulnerability to chronic diseases. However, social position and socioeconomic status have also been identified as major determinants influencing both health behaviors and the development of such diseases. This study focuses on the socioeconomic variations of behavioral risk factors of chronic diseases in aging women. By drawing on Bourdieu’s sociocultural theory of practice, 40 semistructured interviews were conducted to investigate preventive health practices of clinically overweight, postmenopausal women from contrasting socioeconomic classes living in Canada. Findings emphasize class-based differences with respect to long-term health and preventive practices according to three major themes: priority to long-term time horizons, attention given to risk factors of diseases, and control over future health. Health care providers should strive to work in concert with all subgroups of women to better understand their values, worldviews, and needs to decrease health inequalities after menopause.

Introduction: Human Longevity, Utopia, and Solidarity

Biomedical and geriatric technologies are having major impacts on the development and management of human longevity. Our contention in this special issue is that longevity should be considered as a point of departure for new forms of politics in which social sciences, in particular sociology and politics, can play an important role. In this introduction, we argue that emerging consumer markets in biomedicine are incrementally redefining the relationship between old age and society. Techno-economic transformations are creating new sites of vulnerability that are masked by medical utopias of good health and “living forever.” In this context, it is unlikely that such technologies will be able to overcome inequalities in distribution and may well exacerbate various forms of injustice. By drawing on notions of institutional precariousness and scarcity, we conclude that to maintain any degree of social solidarity, increasing longevity will force the emergence of a “sociology of limits.”

Middle-aged women’s decisions about body weight management: needs assessment and testing of a knowledge translation tool

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess middle-aged women’s needs when making body weight management decisions and to evaluate a knowledge translation tool for addressing their needs. MethodsA mixed-methods study used an interview-guided theory-based survey of professional women aged 40 to 65 years. The tool summarized evidence to address their needs and enabled women to monitor actions taken. Acceptability and usability were reported descriptively. ResultsSixty female participants had a mean body mass index of 28.0 kg/m2 (range, 17.0-44.9 kg/m2), and half were premenopausal. Common options for losing (82%) or maintaining (18%) weight included increasing physical activity (60%), eating healthier (57%), and getting support (40%). Decision-making involved getting information on options (52%), soliciting others’ decisions/advice (20%), and being self-motivated (20%). Preferred information sources included written information (97%), counseling (90%), and social networking websites (43%). Five professionals (dietitian, personal trainer, occupational therapist, and two physicians) had similar responses. Of 53 women sent the tool, 27 provided acceptability feedback. They rated it as good to excellent for information on menopause (96%), body weight changes (85%), and managing body weight (85%). Most would tell others about it (81%). After 4 weeks of use, 25 women reported that the wording made sense (96%) and that the tool had clear instructions (92%) and was easy to use across time (88%). The amount of information was rated as just right (64%), but the tool had limited space for responding (72%). ConclusionsWhen making decisions about body weight management, women’s needs were “getting information” and “getting support.” The knowledge translation tool was acceptable and usable, but further evaluation is required.