Critical Social Inquiry 0284 - Is Inequality Making us Sick

The main goal of this course is to examine inequality in the context of sickness and health in the United States. Using a biocultural perspective, the synergistic interface of biology and culture provides a framework for how to examine health in an interdisciplinary manner. We will examine the ways in which inequality engenders ill health, is socially constructed, and the important role that social institutions, ideology, and cultural and medical practices play in creating and perpetuating various forms of inequality. Using a series of case studies that will clarify the way to go about studying inequality and health, students will examine diverse health experiences and the ways in which culture constructs perceptions of health and effective delivery of health care. We also examine the role the medical research plays in setting health care agendas. Students will finish the term with a clearer understanding how health inequalities are generated and perpetuated, and how to think critically about their own health choices. Given time constraints, we will not be able to study everything related to this topic.

Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Quantitative Skills Writing and Research Students are expected to spend at least six to eight hours a week of preparation and work outside of class time.