At face value the idea of “being sick” seems simple enough, but upon closer consideration things become more complex. This semester will be dedicated to exploring the idea of being sick and its implications.
Some of the questions we will explore include: What does it mean to be sick- is it biological or is there a cultural component as well? How does being ill change how people respond to us and how we view ourselves? Who has the power to define if we are or are not sick, or what constitutes a legitimate illness? Should they have that power? Where does that power (and its justification) come from? What happens when I’m sick and nobody believes me? What if I feel fine but other people insist that I am sick?
We’ll also be addressing some key sociological concepts that we’ll need to answer the above questions. This includes ideas such as culture, social institutions, the self, and medicalization.
Professor: Dr. Matthew Manierre