SCY3151 - The Body, Health and Society

Leader: Dr Jo Lindsay

Offered

Clayton First semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit focuses on sociological theorising about the body and contemporary issues in health sociology. It covers the big human issues of birth, sex, reproduction and death and the important social divisions of class, gender, ethnicity and sexuality. We will discuss embodiment and change, how health inequalities are socially produced and distributed and power relations in the current health care system.

Objectives

By the completion of the unit the student should be able to:

1. articulate a sound understanding of the sociological imagination or perspective;
2. analyse complex health issues using a sociological perspective;
3. articulate how our bodies are socially constructed;
4. discuss the operation of medical dominance within the health system;
5. demonstrate skills in synthesizing information and presenting an argument within class and in a report format.

Assessment

Class test (1000 word equiv ) : 25%
Research report (3000 words ) : 65%
Tutorial exercises (500 words) : 10%
Third year students will be expected to demonstrate wider reading and a higher level of analysis than second year students.

Contact hours

1 one hour lecture and 1 one-hour tutorial per week

Prerequisites

A first-year sequence in Sociology or permission

Prohibitions

SCY2151