CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2019
| Author | van't Ende, Floor Jantje |
|---|---|
| Title | Gendering ADHD and Biopolitics in the Knowledge Economy |
| Summary | This thesis revolves around the question of how the gendered diagnosis of ADHD informs the production and regulation of a new kind of neoliberal subject in the Knowledge Economy. The Netherlands, as a country in which various institutions support Knowledge Economy discourses is taken as a case study. The thesis is a combination of critical engagement with existing theories and research on ADHD, education and the knowledge society, and data analysis of governmental discourses and representations of popular media such as interviews and television broadcasts. Analysis of Dutch discourses on gendered learner traits lead me to conclude that boys become a site of contested masculinity in a Knowledge Economy. Through engaging with theories on discourse and biopolitics, the analysis of ADHD characteristics and desirable traits in a Knowledge Economy lead me to conclude that ADHD diagnosis can be considered biopolitical/neurochemical disciplinary practice on the misfit (masculine) subject. Furthermore, theoretical engagement with authors such as Foucault, Rose and Youdell inspire me to suggest that ADHD diagnosis may be considered a way of allocating resources to “failing” learners that may yet be redeemed. Keywords: ADHD, biopolitics, gender, the Netherlands, Knowledge Economy, neoliberalism, discourse Analysis of Dutch discourses on gendered learner traits lead me to conclude that boys become a site of contested masculinity in a Knowledge Economy. Analysis of ADHD characteristics and desirable traits in a Knowledge Economy lead me to conclude that ADHD diagnosis can be considered disciplinary practice on the misfit (masculine) subject. Furthermore, theoretical engagement with authors such as Foucault, Rose and Youdell inspire me to suggest that ADHD diagnosis may be considered a way of allocating resources to “failing” learners that may yet be redeemed. |
| Supervisor | Yoon, dr. Hyaesin; Smith, dr. Sarah |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2019/vant-ende_floor.pdf |
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