Unhealthy city? : public health in interwar Glasgow, 1919-1939
This thesis examines the 'healthy-hungry thirties' debate from a Scottish perspective by analysing public health in Glasgow between 1919 and 1939. The extent to which British health improved or deteriorated in the period between the two World Wars is a point of contention among historians. Traditionally, 'optimist' historians such as Stevenson, Aldcroft and Winter have argued that mortality and morbidity rates improved, while 'pessimists' like Mitchell and Webster argue that the economic recession impacted adversely upon health. More recently however, writers like Jenkinson and Thompson have emphasised the importance of considering this debate from a regional perspective and on the intricacies and complexities of public health statistics according to different social criteria. Eschewing the optimist- pessimist visions of the Depression that dominate the literature, this study focuses upon highlighting divergences in experience according to variables such as location, social class, e mployment position, age, marital status and gender. It explores the role of individual agency and emphasises the multiplicity of social, economic and cultural exchanges which fashioned health experiences. By analysing both qualitative
Dunlop, Leanne
Unhealthy city? : public health in interwar Glasgow, 1919-1939. This thesis examines the 'healthy-hungry thirties' debate from a Scottish perspective by analysing public health in Glasgow between 1919 and 1939. The extent to which British health improved or deteriorated in the period between the two World Wars is a point of contention among historians. Traditionally, 'optimist' historians such as Stevenson, Aldcroft and Winter have argued that mortality and morbidity rates improved, while 'pessimists' like Mitchell and Webster argue that the economic recession impacted adversely upon health. More recently however, writers like Jenkinson and Thompson have emphasised the importance of considering this debate from a regional perspective and on the intricacies and complexities of public health statistics according to different social criteria. Eschewing the optimist- pessimist visions of the Depression that dominate the literature, this study focuses upon highlighting divergences in experience according to variables such as location, social class, e mployment position, age, marital status and gender. It explores the role of individual agency and emphasises the multiplicity of social, economic and cultural exchanges which fashioned health experiences. By analysing both qualitative
city public_health interwar glasgow examines healthy thirty debate scottish perspective analyse public_health glasgow extent british health improve period world_wars point_contention among historian traditionally historian winter argue mortality_morbidity rate improve like argue economic recession impact adversely upon health recently however writer like emphasise_importance consider debate regional_perspective intricacy public_health statistic accord_different social criterion vision depression dominate literature study_focus upon highlight divergence experience accord variable location social_class position age marital status gender explores_role individual agency emphasise multiplicity social_economic cultural_exchange fashion health experience analyse qualitative