“These Things Don’t Happen to People Like you”: The Embodied Experience at the Doctor’s office

James Honke

Abstract:

This paper explores the theoretical implications of embodiment in interactions with medical professionals in hospitals, doctors offices etc. It explores the emotional reactions that can be experienced during these interactions, isolating three main emotional 'themes' – vulnerability, shame and discipline – which arose from participant submissions. These are theorised using Agamben’s concept of ‘bare life’, Mbembé’s necropolitics, and Foucault’s disciplinary theories, to explore how these emotional themes are engendered in patients. The paper argues that the hierarchies inherent to our current experience of medical institutions leads to power relations that are ripe for abuse, and leans on a religious lexicon of ‘sin’ and ‘redemption’ to explore the effect of these power relations on the relationships between medical professionals and patients. The paper incorporates evidence from the aforementioned transcribed personal accounts including an auto-ethnographic account from the author in order to illuminate, and provide support for, the theoretical argument.

Honke_2025_The Embodied Experience at the Doctor's Office.pdf

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