Animals and anomalies: an analysis of the UK veterinary profession and the relative lack of state reform

Hobson-West, Pru; Timmons, Stephen

Abstract

The sociology of professions literature would predict that the contemporary state would not allow groups to continue unregulated or unreformed. However, this is indeed the case with the UK veterinary profession, with legislation dating back to 1966. Using an interdisciplinary analysis of published literature and reports, this paper assesses whether wider social, political and ethical dynamics can better explain this intriguing anomaly. We conclude with critical implications for the sociology of the professions. Furthermore, we argue that continuing to ignore the veterinary profession, and animals more generally, in sociological research will result in an impoverished and partial understanding of contemporary healthcare and occupations.

Citation

Hobson-West, P., & Timmons, S. (2016). Animals and anomalies: an analysis of the UK veterinary profession and the relative lack of state reform. Sociological Review, 64(1), 47-63. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-954X.12254

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 11, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Feb 23, 2015
• Publication Date: Feb 25, 2016
• Deposit Date: Nov 14, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 14, 2016
• Journal: Sociological Review
• Print ISSN: 0038-0261
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-954X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 64
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 47-63
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-954X.12254
• Keywords: animals; veterinary medicine; sociology of professions; professional regulation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/775282
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-954X.12254/abstract
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Hobson-West, P. and Timmons, S. (2016), Animals and anomalies: an analysis of the UK veterinary profession and the relative lack of state reform. The Sociological Review, 64: 47–63, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-954X.12254. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.