Introduction

Abstract

In this book we have set out to do something rather different from conventional social science textbooks. The book takes everyday life and personal experience as its starting point, whether in the ‘private’ spheres of the home and personal relationships or the ‘public’ spheres of paid work and health care. It asks you, the reader, to reflect on what you know, feel and believe about yourself and your social worlds. The book does not require you simply to get to grips with a body of information; nor to learn new facts about being human. Our aim is rather to help you ask questions, to promote enquiry, and therefore much of its content is exploratory rather than factual.