Health and the Body

Our bodies are considered personal, but sociology shows us that our own bodies, and our relationships with it, are socially constructed. Also, our health is influenced by much more than genetics, family histories, or individual choices. Factors such as income, education, employment, access to healthcare, and the environment influence our health and well-being. Sociologists study how these social conditions influence health outcomes and why some people enjoy better access to care than others. Ideas about beauty, disability, aging, and what is considered a “healthy” body are all social constructions that vary across cultures and time. Sociologists examine how these expectations influence people's lives and how social norms shape the way we understand and treat different bodies.

Using sociology to explore health and the body helps us move beyond the idea that health is simply not being “sick”. Sociology encourages us to consider how broader social conditions influence who gets sick, who receives care, and whose experiences are taken more seriously, and more worthy of treatment, than others. By examining the relationship between society, health, and the body, we can understand the ways in which our health and our bodies, something that seems deeply personal, are influenced by larger social systems and structures.