Course overview
This course examines how our experiences of health and illness are profoundly influenced by cultural norms of gender and sexuality. You will be introduced to major theoretical approaches to the social study of gendered and sexed bodies from feminist/gender/queer scholars, exploring how historical and contemporary constructions of un/healthy bodies are made through the intersecting politics of gender and sex, scientific racism, contested knowledges and discrimination. Through a range of global case studies (such as sexual dysfunction, trans health, digital health, reproductive injustice and pharmaceutical markets) we will investigate how contemporary debates about bodies and health are shaped by differing political contexts, which in turn shape health care, health inequities, and embodied experiences of all people.
Course learning outcomes
- Identify the ways in which gender has contributed to the structuring of women’s and men’s bodily experiences of health and illness
- Discuss competing discourses that underpin their own understanding of health and illness, as well as those that predominate in popular, everyday and medical fields
- Debate contemporary gender and sexuality theories relating to the body
- Explain why health policy must include the socio-cultural, economic and political dimensions of gender and health
- Demonstrate an ability to collect and critically analyse material on a gendered health topic
- Write logical and coherent arguments based on evidence, and engage in critical debate
- Work with others in the exploration of ideas and to collectively negotiate solutions to problems