Feminist and Anti-Psychiatry Perspectives on 'Social Anxiety Disorder'

This book conceptualises the diagnosis 'Social Anxiety Disorder' (SAD) in women as a rational response to life in postfeminist, neoliberal, twenty-first century Britain. By speaking to women with this diagnosis, and drawing on the author's lived experience, it investigates the interplay between women's social anxiety and Western culture. It argues that societal factors are implicated in women's mental distress to a far greater extent than dominant (especially psychiatric) narratives would holdnarratives which, premised on individual pathology, often present a biologically reductionist and medicalised account. Through deploying a unique blend of feminism and anti-psychiatry, this book critiques the framework which exists around diagnosing and treating SAD, but without dismissing distress. Inspired by feminist critiques of other gendered psychiatric diagnoses, such as Anorexia Nervosa, it conceptualises 'SAD' in women as a 'culture-bound syndrome'.

This book will interest students and scholars of gender studies and sociology.

Provides novel insight informed by the author's lived experience of SAD Uses a unique interdisciplinary approach to critique an under-researched psychiatric diagnosis Deploys 'SAD' to explore feminist readings of twenty-first century, British, neoliberal, postfeminist society

Autorentext

Katie Masters is a UK-based interdisciplinary researcher with a PhD in Sexuality and Gender Studies and a first-class BSc in Physics. She has held Teaching Fellow positions at the University of Birmingham and LSE.

Klappentext

This book conceptualises the diagnosis Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) in women as a rational response to life in postfeminist, neoliberal, twenty-first century Britain. By speaking to women with this diagnosis, and drawing on the author s lived experience, it investigates the interplay between women s social anxiety and Western culture. It argues that societal factors are implicated in women s mental distress to a far greater extent than dominant (especially psychiatric) narratives would hold narratives which, premised on individual pathology, often present a biologically reductionist and medicalised account. Through deploying a unique blend of feminism and anti-psychiatry, this book critiques the framework which exists around diagnosing and treating SAD, but without dismissing distress. Inspired by feminist critiques of other gendered psychiatric diagnoses, such as Anorexia Nervosa, it conceptualises SAD in women as a culture-bound syndrome . This book will interest students and scholars of gender studies and sociology.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Gender, Psychiatry, and Social Anxiety.- 3. 'Co-morbidities', Femininities, and Non-normativities.- 4. Diagnosis, Treatment, and Contingency on (Gendered) Culture.- 5. Watching Women's Bodies, Watching Women's Selves.- 6. The Ideal Self.- 7. Conclusion.