300146 Sociology of Health and Illness (BS) (SoSe 2016)

This course examines how health and illness are related to social processes and social structure. The course will investigate how the social organization of society influences and is influenced by the types and distribution of disease and illness. Patterns of health and illness in developed and developing countries will be studied in relation to the variables of age, gender, class and race. In addition the impact of stress, work and the environment on the health of people will be addressed. The course will mainly focus on the following broad areas:

Introduction to sociology of health and illness
Sociology of mental health and illness

Culture of medicine

Health inequalities: Theoretical framework

Bio-medical domain, expertise and transformation
Bio-medicalization
Medical practice

Experiencing illness

Social and cultural meanings of illness

Constructing medical objects and subjects

Bibliography

1. Pescosolido, B. A., Martin, J. K., McLeod, J. D., 2011. (Editors). Handbook of the sociology of health, illness, and healing. Springer.

2. Helman. Culture, health and illness. Wright Publisher

3. Suis, J. & Wallston. Social, Psychological foundations of health and illness. Blackwell.

4. Nettleton, S. 2006. The sociology of health and illness.

5. White, K. 2009. An introduction to the sociology of health.

6. Weitz. The sociology of health, illness and healthcare. Thomson
Bury. 2001. Illness narratives: Facts or Fiction?