Introductory description

This module explores how social and political structures shape medical knowledge, health outcomes, and environmental exposure. Central to this endeavor is an understanding of the centrality of categories such as race, gender, sex, or dis/ability in discourse and knowledge production around health, science, and the environment. At the same time, we will also pay attention to how health inequalities and the burden of environmental pollution are distributed unevenly along race, gender, class, or citizenship. To examine how health and other embodied inequalities are produced, experienced, and resisted, students will be introduced to key theoretical perspectives from feminist science and technology studies (STS), medical sociology, environmental sociology, and postcolonial theory. We will consider historical and contemporary case studies, including environmental racism, reproductive justice, and biomedical governance, to focus on the relationship between health/disease, risk, rights, toxicity, and society. Through critical engagement with texts and discussions, students will develop the analytical and methodological tools necessary to interrogate and address pressing social and environmental injustices.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Introduction
Body
Disease
Environment
Toxicity
Reading week
Citizenship
Risk
Science
Queer Futures

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically analyze how social and political structures shape medical knowledge, health outcomes, and environmental exposure.
• Examine the historical contexts that have led to present-day health inequalities.
• Understand key theoretical frameworks from feminist STS, medical sociology, environmental sociology, and postcolonial theory and apply them to the study of health and the environment.
• Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of gender, race, class, sexuality, and dis/ability for the politics of health and the environment.
• Develop strong analytical skills through close reading and critical interpretation of texts from a range of disciplines.
• Communicate effectively, constructing well-reasoned arguments in both written work and class discussions.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Interdisciplinary

Students will be introduced to key theoretical perspectives from feminist science and technology studies (STS), medical sociology, environmental sociology, and postcolonial theory.

International

We will consider historical and contemporary case studies, including environmental racism, reproductive justice, and biomedical governance in various local contexts (Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia, Africa). Additionally, we will consider health and environmental degradation on a planetary scale, developing a transnational argument about the histories of present-day health disparities.

Subject specific skills

Demonstrate an advanced and critical understanding of the field of health disparities and environmental pollution, and how embodied inequalities have historically developed.
Develop interdisciplinary proficiency by applying concepts from feminist science and technology studies, medical sociology, environmental sociology, and postcolonial theory to the politics of health and the environment.
Interpret, evaluate, and critically analyze empirical studies on health, society, and the environment.
Contextualize and critically evaluate the appropriateness of different methodological approaches to health and environmental pollution (e.g., biomedical, historical, materialist/new materialist lenses)

Transferable skills

Oral and written communication skills
Critical thinking
Analytic reasoning