Simon Williams (sociologist)
Encyclopedia
Simon Johnson Williams is a British sociologist. He is Professor of Sociology at the University of Warwick
[1].
), followed by a Masters degree in Sociology as Applied to Medicine (medical sociology
) in 1986 and a doctorate in Sociology in 1990 -- both at Royal Holloway
and Bedford New College, University of London
. He then worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Kent
in the Centre for Health Services Studies from 1990-1992 before moving to a full-time lectureship in Sociology at the University of Warwick in 1992, where he has been ever since, becoming a full Professor of Sociology in 2005.
, with particular reference to issues of cognitive enhancement [Refs]. He also has newly emerging research interests in issues of citizen/open science.
: a topic which until quite recently has received relatively little attention within sociology or the social sciences and humanities
in general. His book Sleep and Society [Ref], for example, may be read as an early attempt to sketch the sociological dimensions and dynamics of sleep, including socio-cultural and historical variability in how, when, where and with whom we sleep; changing ideas, meanings and values associated with sleep through time, culture and context; the contested nature and status of sleep rights and sleep roles in the 24/7 society; the embodied and embedded nature of sleep in everyday/night life; the social patterning and social organisation of sleep; and the medicalisation of sleep. Further collaborative research has also been conducted on the social construction of sleep in the news [Refs], and sleep deprivation
as a hidden dimension of domestic violence
[Refs].
His latest book, The Politics of Sleep [Ref], examines the increasingly 'politicised' nature of sleep today as a matter of controversy
, contestation and concern, thereby linking sleep to prevailing socio-political discourses and debates concerning rights, risks and responsibilities in the late modern age and associated questions of citizenship
, enterprise and enhancement in neo-liberal times. Sleep indeed, Williams argues, is another vital part of the 'politics of life' and the 'governance of bodies' today.
The social sciences and humanities too, Williams suggests, are implicated in these very processes and dynamics, thereby further profiling, promoting or problematising and hence politicising sleep, both inside and outside the academy, the laboratory and the clinic. This for example, includes recent sociological research on: gender
, sleep and the life course [Refs]; the social and health patterning of sleep quality and duration [Refs], and; the medicalisation of sleep []. Comparative historical and cross-cultural research is also now shedding further valuable new light on a range of sleep-related matters such as the transformation of sleep science []; sleep in (pre)industrial times [], and; sleep and night-time in Asia
and the West [Refs].
All in all this adds up to a rich and vibrant new interdisciplinary area of research on 'sleep and society' that complements and extends existing work in sleep science, sleep medicine
and cognate fields of inquiry.
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University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
[1].
Biography
Simon Williams graduated in 1985 with a first class honours degree in Social Science from the Polytechnic of Central London (now the University of WestminsterUniversity of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
), followed by a Masters degree in Sociology as Applied to Medicine (medical sociology
Medical sociology
Medical sociology is the sociological analysis of medical organizations and institutions; the production of knowledges and selection of methods, the actions and interactions of healthcare professionals, and the social or cultural effects of medical practice...
) in 1986 and a doctorate in Sociology in 1990 -- both at Royal Holloway
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
and Bedford New College, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. He then worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
in the Centre for Health Services Studies from 1990-1992 before moving to a full-time lectureship in Sociology at the University of Warwick in 1992, where he has been ever since, becoming a full Professor of Sociology in 2005.
Research Expertise: Overview
Williams' has researched a wide range of sociological topics and interdisciplinary issues during his career, including the body [Refs], emotion/affect [Refs], health and illness [Refs], pain [Refs], sleep [Refs], pharmaceuticals [Refs], and most recently the social shaping/social implications of neuroscienceNeuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, with particular reference to issues of cognitive enhancement [Refs]. He also has newly emerging research interests in issues of citizen/open science.
The Sociology and Politics of Sleep
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of Williams' work to date has been his contribution to the newly emerging sociology of sleepSleep
Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and is more easily reversible than...
: a topic which until quite recently has received relatively little attention within sociology or the social sciences and humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
in general. His book Sleep and Society [Ref], for example, may be read as an early attempt to sketch the sociological dimensions and dynamics of sleep, including socio-cultural and historical variability in how, when, where and with whom we sleep; changing ideas, meanings and values associated with sleep through time, culture and context; the contested nature and status of sleep rights and sleep roles in the 24/7 society; the embodied and embedded nature of sleep in everyday/night life; the social patterning and social organisation of sleep; and the medicalisation of sleep. Further collaborative research has also been conducted on the social construction of sleep in the news [Refs], and sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. Few studies have compared the...
as a hidden dimension of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
[Refs].
His latest book, The Politics of Sleep [Ref], examines the increasingly 'politicised' nature of sleep today as a matter of controversy
Controversy
Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of opinion. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus , hence, "to turn...
, contestation and concern, thereby linking sleep to prevailing socio-political discourses and debates concerning rights, risks and responsibilities in the late modern age and associated questions of citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
, enterprise and enhancement in neo-liberal times. Sleep indeed, Williams argues, is another vital part of the 'politics of life' and the 'governance of bodies' today.
The social sciences and humanities too, Williams suggests, are implicated in these very processes and dynamics, thereby further profiling, promoting or problematising and hence politicising sleep, both inside and outside the academy, the laboratory and the clinic. This for example, includes recent sociological research on: gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
, sleep and the life course [Refs]; the social and health patterning of sleep quality and duration [Refs], and; the medicalisation of sleep []. Comparative historical and cross-cultural research is also now shedding further valuable new light on a range of sleep-related matters such as the transformation of sleep science []; sleep in (pre)industrial times [], and; sleep and night-time in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and the West [Refs].
All in all this adds up to a rich and vibrant new interdisciplinary area of research on 'sleep and society' that complements and extends existing work in sleep science, sleep medicine
Sleep medicine
Sleep medicine is a medical specialty or subspecialty devoted to the diagnosis and therapy of sleep disturbances and disorders. From the middle of the 20th century, research has provided increasing knowledge and answered many questions about sleep-wake functioning. The rapidly evolving field has...
and cognate fields of inquiry.
Books
- Williams, S.J. (2011) The Politics of Sleep: Governing (Un)Consciousness in the Late Modern Age. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
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- Williams,S.J., Gabe, J., Davis, P.B. (eds) (2009) Pharmaceuticals and Society. Oxford: Blackwell.
- Williams, S.J. (2005) Sleep and Society. London: Routledge.
- Williams, S.J. (2003) Medicine and the Body. London: Sage.
- Williams, S.J., Birke,L. and Bendelow, G. (eds.) (2003) Debating Biology. London: Routledge.
- Bendelow, G., Carpenter, M., Vautier, C. and Williams, S.J. (eds) (2002) Gender, Health and Healing. London: Routledge.
- Williams, S.J. (2001) Emotion and Social Theory. London: Routldge.
- Williams, S.J., Gabe, J. and Calnan, M. (eds) (2000) Health, Medicine and Society. London: Routledge.
- Williams, S.J. and Calnan, M. (eds) (1996) Modern Medicine: Lay Perspectives and Experiences. London: UCL Press.
- Williams, S.J. and Bendelow G. (1998) The Lived Body. London: Routledge.
- Bendelow, G. and Williams, S.J. (eds.) (1998) Emotions in Social Life. London: Routledge.
- Williams, S.J. (1993). Chronic Respiratory Illness. London: Routldge.
External Links
- Home Page: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/staff/academicstaff/williamss/
- Simon Williams' Amazon books webpage http://www.amazon.co.uk/Simon-J.-Williams/e/B001HD1C9C
- Observer article on 'Napping' in the School of Life series: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/10/ideas-for-modern-living-napping