SOC30440 Sociology of the Body

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module will introduce students to a variety of sociological debates that surround human body. It will explore various theoretical perspectives of how we experience and live in our bodies , including theories by Foucault, Elias, Goffman, Judith Butler and others. It will focus on the roles our bodies are prescribed to, or play in our everyday interactions, how they are socially constructed.
The main topics of this module will range from exploring the mind/body relationship, the historical accounts of how attitudes to our bodies have been changing, the politics of the body, including gender and racial inequalities, disabilities, medicalisation and commodification of bodies, and also we will be looking at the processes behind sexualisation, ageing and dying.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the module the student should be able to:
Understand key ideas within the sociology of the body and apply that to analysing specific aspects of the body and its significance to our position in the social world.
Display awareness of the role of the mind/body relationship in different historical contexts
Evaluate key sociological theories which account for embodiment
Appreciate particular approaches to researching the body from a sociological perspective.

Indicative Module Content:

bodies in history; sexualised bodies; Irish bodies; gendered bodies; bodies and media; racialised bodies; disabled bodies; ageing bodies; dead and dying bodies;

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Autonomous Student Learning

101
Total

123
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures;
In-class discussions;
peer and group work (in class)
reflective learning;
critical thinking and writing; 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Written assignment Week 7 n/a Graded No

40
Examination: Exam 2 hour End of Trimester Exam No Graded No

60

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be provided on assessed coursework as individual comments published in the VLE, in group sessions at lectures and/ or in person during office hours as appropriate.