The Sociology of Violation Fellowship, individuality and risk

Sociology of violation Written documents on violationg encounters are not new, but I have since my dissertation "When care is perceived as violating" was finished i 1997, seen a growing interest in issues dealing with violation broadly speaking, not only in the health care services, but in different fields and at different levels where human beings meet and interact. To my knowlegde however, there exists no book about violation from a sociological perspective. In such a book, the notion of violation will be analysed in a symbolic interactional and social constructional perspective in order to grasp what violation as a social phenomenon means from the viewpoint of persons who have experienced such actions and attitudes. The book will draw on my own resear ch as well as empirical and theoretical material from other social arenas where people interact. Fellowship, individuality and risk This book is based on the study called "Life history, life careers and life plans". The project leader was Professor Johan s Sandvin, in co-operation with among others, Dr. Lillestø. The study`s aim was to develop better knowledge of the individual and social processes that influence the life careers of three generations of disabled persons. Altogether, 70 persons in their 20 ´s, 40´s and 60´s representing hearing, visual and mobility impaired perspons, were interviewed. Data from the study revealed that living with impairment has changed quite dramatically for most of them since WW2; society has to a large extent moved from s egregation to integration, persons with disabilities have better opportunities in working life, within the educational system, technical aid, individual services and physical access and participation in society. As a result, individual choice and freedom, challenge disabled persons in the same way as other persons, but disabled persons are at the same time more vulnerable since they still experience barriers in society that exclude them as equal members.