Showing posts with label medicalization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medicalization. Show all posts

Friday, February 17, 2012

Medicalization

We find that many difficulties in life have been deemed medical problems when previously they have not been considered real problems at all or at least not medical problems. Our text (module 6.6) notes a number of examples such as ADHD (unruly children), alcoholism (used to be considered immoral behavior), depression (sadness) etc. There is currently an effort to make the infrequency of women experiencing orgasm as a medical disorder (female sexual dysfunction). What would be the benefits and disadvantages of making this a medical diagnosis? Who would benefit from such a change in label/perspective (professional and common people)? How would such a new diagnosis harm people or organizations?