ANT 305 - Gender, Race, and Health

This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to learn about the embodiment of societal systems like gender and race in human biology and health. We will study societal systems using theory from women and gender studies, sociology, and associated fields. Students will learn about variation in gender (including masculinities) and health across societies, how racism and societal systems of race impact biology and well-being, and examine evidence that poverty becomes embodied. In this course, students will also gain an understanding of how societal stress becomes embodied, through learning the stress-related endocrine response, including how stress hormones impact immune function and metabolic function. We will also include an introduction to epigenetics. Throughout the course, students will read papers from the scientific literature that provide evidence for how hormones, immune function, and health are related to societal factors.

Prerequisite(s): ANT 101 or ANT 102 or WGS 101 or permission of instructor.
Co-requisite(s):
Credits: 3

Course Typically Offered:
Course Type: Anthropology