Ungrievable Lives

Racism, Risk and Responsibility in Neoliberal Societies
A distinctive and damning exploration of the devaluation of Black and Brown lives in contemporary neoliberal societies.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the resurgence of Black Lives Matter (BLM) following the death of George Floyd, brought into stark clarity what scholars and activists have long argued – that when it comes to matters of sickness, health, life and death, some lives matter more than others.
In this original and much-needed exploration of attitudes towards (un)grievable lives, Spratt extends Judith Butler’s theory of grievability to examine contemporary debates about blame, risk, death and dying in the context of racial disparities in health and mortality. Drawing on contemporary examples – from immigration policy and prison reform to medical ethics, health behaviours, and the denial of citizenship – Spratt reveals how neoliberal systems and attitudes produce hierarchies of human value. In doing so, she argues that racist, sexist and classist ideas about risk and vulnerability shape whose lives are protected and whose deaths are mourned, rendering some losses publicly grievable while others pass with little recognition.

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.