A Foucauldian analysis of Old Age and the Power of Social Welfare
Biggs, Simon Powell, Jason
Biggs, Simon
Powell, Jason
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EPub Date
Publication Date
2001-06-01
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Abstract
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), 93-111
Publisher
Haworth Press
Journal
Journal of Aging and Social Policy
Research Unit
DOI
10.1300/J031v12n02_06
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
en
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
0895-9420
EISSN
1545-0821