Monograph: Pain - A Political History

This monograph is a review of the book 'Pain: A Political History' by Keith Wailoo. It explores the main topic of the book, the structure of the topic, the main arguments, and the main evidence used. The monograph highlights the political motives behind the treatment of pain and emphasizes the need for awareness.

MONOGRAPHS
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Main Body.......................................................................................................................................3
Main topic of the book................................................................................................................3
Structure of the topic...................................................................................................................3
Main arguments...........................................................................................................................4
Main evidence used.....................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6
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Introduction
Monograph is referred to as a specialist work of writing that is based on a single subject
often by a single author. This project is a review of monograph article titled as "Where does it
hurt?". It is based on the book "Pain: A Political History" which was written by Keith Wailoo.
This book is based on American political culture and touches the sensitive nerves of American
liberalism, conservatism and political life. This project covers a brief discussion over the topic
discussed in the book to understand the structure adopted in the article. Further, main evidences
used are discussed to understand the main argument provided in the book and covered in the
article.
Main Body
Main topic of the book
The book "Pain: A Political History" by Keith Wailoo has the pain of political turnout as
its backdrop. It examines the lines of pain as defined between the liberals and the conservatives
or the Democrats and the Republicans from World War II to the 21st century (Pain: A Political
History, Keith Wailoo, 2020). It argues over the supremacy of pain i.e. it discusses the pains such
as pain of disablement and end-of-life pain to fetal pain, to battle out which pain should be given
supremacy on the basis of reality, intensity and frequency. This supremacy provides for the
further ideological battle of relief as to who shall be given due deserving relief, at the bedside, in
the courts and in politics. This book begins with return of soldiers after World War II when the
situation was marred by pain of disability under fierce medical and political disagreements.
Wailoo then explores the subsequent rise of liberal pain standards as well as emerging conviction
about the real, disabling and compensable subjective pain along the 1960s. These mentioned
concepts were under attacked during Reagan Era, when the backlash of the diminished disability
aid expanded the role of courts as arbitrators in the political struggle to define pain. This pain
politics further opened new fronts in nationwide political and demographical typology.
Advocates for death with dignity were insisting that end-of-life pain shall be given full warranted
relief, on the other hand, religious right mobilised around fetal pain.
Structure of the topic
This article takes through the journey of physical pain experienced by the American
people in the second half of twentieth century. The article on pain started with an introduction of
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the topic i.e. different types of pains that a person suffers, its feeling and intensity, not just from
the point of view of person experiencing it but also from the point of view of onlookers (Where
does it hurt. Joanna Bourke, 2020). It then moved ahead with plight of sufferers as to how they
feel and their experience with the pain against the dismissive attitude of those people who claim
to wish to help them. For example, it said that sufferers in the pain of political and cultural war
are mainly vulnerable sections of the society such as poor and female and the one who can
relieve them from pain are physicians, politicians, judges, lawyers, etc. It was developing base of
the book in the article under the highlight of topic 'pain' in the context of plight of pain of US
people in the aftermath of Second World War when both Republicans and Democrats,
conservatives and liberals were appropriating pain of people to their own cause. The article then
end with discussion over the discussion over the Wailoo castigating both conservatives and
liberals for their positions on pain of vulnerable and therefore, advising readers to pay more
attention to the political motives of the people who claim to relieve people from pain.
Main arguments
This monograph pertains to explore pain of the vulnerable and the undue advantage taken
of their pain by the people in power. It is argued in the monograph that sufferers have always
wanted to communicate their pain but have to face disappointment in not only to find right words
but also because of the dismissive attitude of people who can help them as well as claim to wish
to help them. Powerful people often find themselves at loggerheads to claim who has done better
for people such as government and the physicians. However, these are the people who actually
are reluctant to assist people in pain. People in pain were made symbols to demonstrate wrong in
the society and easy escape were find to blame those who caused pain. It argued that powerful
people are not really concerned and therefore, people should be wary of the political motives of
such people.
Main evidence used
This monograph uses the context provided in the book to present evidence for supporting
the main argument provided. For example, it was presented that in a political and cultural war
such as World War II, poor and female tend to be most ignored and disparaged and are
constantly used by the people in power such physicians, politicians, judges, pharmaceutical
companies and lawyers. Politicians claim to help people and therefore, post world war, US health
policy underwent major overhaul. President Truman decided "fair-deal" for war veterans, argued
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for the establishment of the compulsory health insurance which was contradicted by American
Medical Association as socialising medicine. It was as if to claim who has provided bigger relief.
There was an evidence suggested that in 1955, a commission was established to decide for
pension for war veterans and when asked whether pain and mental anguish should be given due
while calculating pensions, doctors fretted and gave report against them considering a new
factor.
Conclusion
Above monograph is on the line of pain experiences of the people and the context is
based on the book of Keith Wailoo, "Pain: A Political History". It states that vulnerable section
of society is the real bearers of the pain and there are various powerful sections of the society
which claim to wish to help them but are only appropriating their own cause. It can be concluded
that people needs to be aware of their political motives and should not allow others to belittle
them.
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References
Online
Pain: A Political History, Keith Wailoo. 2020. [Online]. Available
through:<https://jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/pain>
Where does it hurt. Joanna Bourke. 2020. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.jstor.org/stable/43314860>
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