Proposing a sociology of donation: The donation of body parts and products for art, education, research, or treatment



Machin, Laura L, Williams, Richard A and Frith, Lucy ORCID: 0000-0002-8506-0699
(2020) Proposing a sociology of donation: The donation of body parts and products for art, education, research, or treatment. Sociology Compass, 14 (10). pp. 1-16.

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Abstract

This article advances the case for a ‘sociology of donation’. We aim to establish that there is a need for such a sociology, to bring together the many, often disparate, elements that make up the theorizing, practice and experience of donation. We argue that bringing together different forms of donation illuminates the distinctive place both in social meaning and regulation that the body and its products hold. In developing this, we are primarily focusing on the donation of body parts and body products within high‐income countries. We will first outline the standard western accounts of donation, and consider how relevant these are to donation practices and policies in the 21st century. We will then critically discuss how a sociology of donation can be used to further current understandings of ‘donation’ and identify the challenges facing such a proposal, posing questions to encourage reflection on research practices in this area. Finally, we will explore what a sociology of donation might entail.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 4 Quality Education
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 22 Jul 2020 08:48
Last Modified: 15 Mar 2024 01:38
DOI: 10.1111/soc4.12826
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3094768