Health, Biomedicine, Culture, and Society (220-0-20)
Instructors
Santiago Molina
Santiago J. Molina (he/they) grew up moving between the United States and central Mexico. He received his PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley and his BA from the University of Chicago. Their work sits at the intersections of science and technology studies, political sociology, sociology of racial and ethnic relations, and bioethics. On a theoretical level, Santiago’s work concerns the deeply entangled relationship between the production of knowledge and the production of social order.
Meeting Info
Fisk Hall 217: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM
Overview of class
We are told constantly, "take care of yourself!" and we do our best to eat well, sleep well, and stay healthy. Our bodies are important to us. They are also important to the institutions we are a part of, including our families, our schools, our jobs, and our country. They are all invested in keeping our bodies healthy and productive. However, the array of institutions interested in the value of our bodies often have additional incentives- our health is surrounded by a hoard of controversies:
- Why do some people get better medical care than others?
- How should the healthcare system be organized?
- How do we balance the risks of new medical treatments with the benefits?
- What makes the stigma associated with disease and disability so enduring?
- What happens when no diagnosis can be made?
This course offers conceptual tools and perspectives for answering these controversies. To do so it surveys a variety of topics related to the intersections of health, biomedicine, culture, and society. We will analyze the cultural meanings associated with health and illness; the political debates surrounding health care, medical knowledge production, and medical decision-making; and the structure of the social institutions that comprise the health care industry. We will examine many problems with the current state of health and health care in the United States and also consider potential solutions.
Learning Objectives
To develop a conceptual toolkit for examining the politics of health and medicine.
Teaching Method
Lecture and discussion sections
Evaluation Method
Take-home short essay, in-class midterm, take-home final, and section attendance and participation
Class Materials (Required)
All materials for this course will be made available on Canvas - no purchase necessary.
Class Attributes
Interdisciplinary Distro-rules apply
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Ethics & Values Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-331: Wed 4:00PM - 4:50PM
DIS - Parkes Hall 213: Thurs 3:00PM - 3:50PM
DIS - University Hall 312: Thurs 4:00PM - 4:50PM
DIS - University Hall 112: Fri 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - University Hall 218: Fri 3:00PM - 3:50PM
DIS - University Hall 418: Fri 4:00PM - 4:50PM