Why do sociologists study health?
While people often think about inequality along economic, racial, and gender lines, inequities in health are an equally important measure of societal wellbeing. In broad terms, this course will explore the relationship between social factors and health, illness, and mortality.
Topics include
The stratification of health by race/ethnicity, gender, and social class; the role of stress and social support; environmental context and illness; lifestyle and behavior risks (smoking, drinking, drugs, and sexual behavior); STD's and HIV/AIDS; and cross-national comparisons of health and patterns of disease.
I believe that it is important not only for the teacher to inform the student, but for the student to inform the teacher as well.
Thus, asking questions and discussion is an integral part of the classroom experience. I want the class, and myself, to hear your reactions/opinions to the topics under discussion, as this can often lead to a more well-rounded understanding of social phenomena. But, as we all know, controversy is a large part of our social world. As a result, we will sometimes be discussing controversial issues during class. Try to keep an open mind during these discussions, and make informed decisions regarding your opinions.