Sociology of Health and Illness

• • Studying health and illness sociologically
  • The social production and distribution of health and illness:Life Chances and Health: Who gets sick?
  • Social Class and Health
  • Gender and health
  • Experiencing health and illness: Medicalization and Technology
  • Disability and Chronic Illness
  • Lay knowledge and practices
  • Health and Wellness
  • The social organisation of healthcare:Health Care Systems and Spending
  • Medicineand Medical Dominance
  • Hospitals
  • Public Health
  • The social organisation of healthcare
  • Public Health
  • CAM

Others

25 points at introductory level in any discipline or admission to A1C Diploma of Creative Arts and Health

Additional requirements

No additional requirements

This subject applies a critical sociological perspective to health, illness and medicine. Each year the subject will use topical examples to explore expert and public knowledges about health and illness, the social distribution and patterning of health and illness, inequalities in health, experiences of health and illness, the health professions and the politics of health care. Recent examples include vaccination, breastfeeding, alternative medicine, wellness influencers, professionalisation among allied health practitioners and political debates about private health insurance.

This subject is highly relevant for students interested in social research or work in sociology, social work, health and social policy related areas. The subject objectives are: (1) to familiarise students with key health related sociological theories and empirical research; (2) to introduce students to contemporary sociological debates about health and illness; and (3) to develop the skills of critical sociological analysis as applied to health and illness.

• Short Report (30%)
• Essay (40%)
• Exam (30%)