Constructing the boundaries of health sociology

The chapter reflects on the history of the sociology of health, arguing that the history requires ‘re-working’ in a context where socio-political movements clamour to raise awareness of the biases, occlusions and absences in our stocks of knowledge. It presents a small study of a selection of the speciality's textbooks and handbooks using the method of context-content analysis to map the field and provide insights into its key theorists and trends. The concepts of boundaries and boundary-work - developed by Gieryn (1999) with regard to the processes of science - are subsequently applied to investigate the contours of the knowledge field. New concepts for these processes are developed: boundary-work distinction, solidarity, positioning and consolidation. These indicate the social processes through which actors engage with theories, theorists and texts, contributing to, and modifying the disciplinary stock of knowledge. The chapter closes with reflections on the speciality's impact and engagement with the global knowledge system.