Premium
Proposing a sociology of donation: The donation of body parts and products for art, education, research, or treatment
Author(s) -
Machin Laura L.,
Williams Richard A.,
Frith Lucy
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
sociology compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1751-9020
DOI - 10.1111/soc4.12826
Subject(s) - donation , sociology , meaning (existential) , public relations , social science , epistemology , law , political science , philosophy
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.