Dynamics of Discourse: A Case Study Illuminating Power Relations in Mental Retardation

摘要

In this paper, a discourse analysis of a single case, I examine the text of the case file of an individual labeled as having mental retardation. The focus is on exploring some of the power dynamics that underpin services and our understanding of mental retardation. Using Foucault's treatise on discipline as an analytic tool, I sought to unravel some of the mechanisms through which a defective identity is constructed, thereby legitimizing social control.