This paper discusses issues of research design and methods in new materialist social inquiry, an approach that is attracting increasing interest across the sciences as alternative to either realist or constructionist ontologies. New materialism de-privileges human agency, focusing instead upon how assemblages animate inanimate together produce world, with fundamental implications for inquiry methodology methods. Key our exploration notion a 'research-assemblage' comprising researcher, data,...

Part 1 Power and inscription: inscribing the body organizing health. 2 Repetitions resistance: repetition, desire professional care resistance gift. 3 Difference engagement: politics of arche-health deterritorializing health illness.

This paper explores the online "pro-anorexia" underground, a movement that supports those with anorexia and adopts an "anti-recovery" perspective on disease. While encouraging "healthy" diet to sustain anorexic way-of-life, also recommends radical use of weight-loss pharmaceuticals pursue maintain low body weight, in contrast their conventional treat obesity. Using ethnographic interview data collected from participants "Anagrrl" website forum, we analyse pro-anorexia (or "pro-ana") terms...

Boundary objects are entities that enhance the capacity of an idea, theory or practice to translate across culturally defined boundaries, for example, between communities knowledge practice. This concept thus has potential both explain and predict technology adoption; however, it remains sociologically under-theorized. article assesses, by recourse a historical case study innovations in surgical sterility, how boundary work their relationship social meanings within It is concluded not only...

Two theoretical moves are required to resist the ‘humanist enticements’ associated with sexuality. Post-structuralism supplies first, showing how social produces culturally specific sexual knowledgeabilities. A second anti-humanist move is then needed overturn anthropocentric privileging of human body and subject as locus In this paper we establish a language landscape for Deleuze-inspired sociology sexuality that shifts location away from bodies individuals. Sexuality in view an impersonal...

Abstract This paper examines the consequences of a new emphasis on lifestyle in production, marketing and consumption pharmaceuticals. Over past decade, range medicines have become available that address aspects lifestyle, while others been subject marketing. We argue, with recourse to broad literature from social sciences, economics health services research our study pharmaceutical consumption, two processes can be discerned. First, there is domestication drugs via home computers,...

While many aspects of social life possess an emotional component, sociology needs to explore explicitly the part emotions play in producing world and human history. This paper turns away from individualistic anthropocentric emphases upon experience feelings emotions, attending instead exploration flows 'affect' (meaning simply a capacity affect or be affected) between bodies, things, institutions abstractions. It establishes materialist affects that acknowledges as part, but only more...

Studies of the application research in policy and service delivery suggest that translation findings into practice is not straightforward. Practitioners are criticized for failing to base actions on evidence, while academic sometimes condemned as `irrelevant' practice. This paper argues this conflict derives part from an model constructed opposition Reflections scientific logocentrism (claims possess unmediated knowledge reality) `transgressive' action provide a critique traditional...

This article explores the formation of 'health identities': embodied subjectivities that emerge out complex psychosocial contexts reflexive modernity, in relation to data on health and illness practices among groups people patients using medical technologies including weight-loss drugs erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil (Viagra). We examine a range identities, from 'expert patient'--a person who broadly adopts biomedical model illness, 'resisting consumer', fabricates identity around lay...

The ill-health assemblage comprises the networks of biological, psychological and sociocultural relations that surround bodies during ill-health. paper argues for health sociology to reject an organic body-with-organs as its unit analysis illness, replace it with approach embodiment deriving from Deleuze Guattari’s ontology. I set out three key terms: body-without-organs (BwO), assemblages, territorialisation. These concepts will be applied develop understanding assemblage. contrast this...

Personal health technologies are near-body devices or applications designed for use by a single individual, principally outside healthcare facilities. They enable users to monitor physiological processes body activity, frequently communication-enabled and sometimes also intervene therapeutically. This article explores range of personal technologies, from blood pressure glucose monitors purchased in pharmacies fitness such as Fitbit Nike+ Fuelband drug pumps implantable medical devices. It...

Though mainstream sociological theory has been founded within dualisms such as structure/agency, nature/culture, and mind/matter, a thread sociology dating back to Spencer Tarde favoured monist ontology that cut across dualistic categories. This reinvigorated by recent developments in social theory, including the new materialisms, posthumanism affect theories. Here we assess what or 'flat' means for understanding of key concepts structures systems, power resistance. We examine two monistic...

This article presents a new materialist exploration of young men and sexuality that shifts the focus away from bodies individuals, toward affective flow within assemblages bodies, things, ideas social institutions, sexual capacities this produces. Using data two empirical studies, we explore teen boys men, micropolitics these assemblages. We find produced in is highly territorialised aggregated by various materialities. However, also reveal how resist conventional sexualities.