SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS

Susan J. Ferguson Grinnell College

Office: Carnegie 112 Sociology 265.01
Office Phone: ext. 3133 Spring, 2009
Office Hours: 2:30 p.m. T/Th Time: 12:45-2:05 p.m. T/Th
and by appointment ARH 102
fergusos@grinnell.edu

Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship in the kingdom of the well
and the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the
good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell,
to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place.

—Susan Sontag, Illness as Metaphor

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the social contexts of health, illness, and medical care. It gives
prominence to the debates and contrasting perspectives which characterize the field of
medical sociology. Topics include the social, environmental, and occupational factors in
health and illness; the politics surrounding breast cancer and the AIDS epidemic; the
patient's perspective on illness; the development of the health professions and the health
work force; ethical issues in medicine as they relate to medical technology; and health care
reform. In exploring these topics, emphasis is given to how the social categories of gender,
race, social class, and sexuality affect both illness and health care.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

1). To investigate the social contexts of illness and medical care.

2). To investigate the patient's perspective on the experience of illness and how patients
respond to the care of physicians.

3). To investigate the social-historical development of the medical system in the United
States, including the changing role of physicians and other health care providers.

4). To investigate the historical role of women in the medical system as patients,
practitioners, and health care providers.

5). To investigate current ethical issues and debates about new medical technologies
and their impact on doctor-patient relationships and on access to health care.

6). To investigate current problems in the organization of U.S. medical care as well as
alternatives for change.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

A. Exams: There will be two take-home exams (a mid-semester exam and a final
exam) that will cover prior lecture and reading material. Any additional material provided by
assignments, guest speakers, or videos also will be covered on the exams. The final exam
is not comprehensive. Both exams are already scheduled in the course syllabus and
students are expected to take the exams during the time period that is listed. There will
be no makeup exams unless you have spoken with me prior to the exam and have a valid
excuse. Each exam will count 25% of your final grade.

B. Assignments: In addition to the two exams, there will be two required outside
assignments. The purpose of these assignments is to determine how well you can make an
argument utilizing material learned in class. The two assignments are outlined as follows:

1). A 4 to 5 page position paper on the issue of poverty and health care.
Primary focus is Abraham’s book and other readings related to social class.

2). A second 4 to 5 page position paper on an ethical debate related to medical

technology that you will be assigned to investigate and present your opinion
on in class. Note: Topic may change.

The two position papers are relatively short in length, and instructions will be given at least
a week prior to when they are due. All assignments should be typed and reflect thoughtful
writing skills. Late assignments, if accepted, will be graded down. Each position paper
is worth 10% of your final grade.

C. Class Presentation: Teams of two students will lead a course discussion and
present material on a course-related topic. In addition to summarizing that day's readings,
each group will present additional information, including a bibliography of books and articles
on that topic to hand-out to the class. Specific guidelines for this presentation are on the
next page. This class presentation is 15% of your final grade.

D. Attendance and Participation: Since this course is an upper-division sociology

seminar, students are expected to take an active role in shaping their learning environment
both within and outside the classroom. This role includes regular class attendance, leading
and participating in class discussions, and group work.

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Moreover, each student will arrive
to class ready to participate by having discussion questions or comments already written
down. Class participation, including these short discussion papers, class discussions, and
attendance is worth 15% of your final grade.

Please note: There will be no extra credit work

 Class Presentation: A Suggested Protocol

1. Duplicate and distribute handouts and bibliographies to class participants.

2. Spend the first ten minutes verbally summarizing the readings' main findings and
conclusions. Offer your evaluation of the reading material as well as your thinking
on the larger topic. Discuss the link between your selected topic and broader issues
of medical sociology.

3. Identify the common theme(s) in the articles. Synthesize the findings by showing
how the articles relate to each other. You also might note similarities between your
topic and issues that were previously discussed in class.

4. In addition, each presenter is expected to read at least three additional readings

on the topic and present this information to the class. Presenters may use the
suggested readings or something they found during their literature search.

5. Be prepared to identify a number of questions that the articles raise. Pose these
questions to members of the class. In essence, these questions will serve as a
guidepost for discussion during the remainder of the class time. The following
questions are some examples:

a. How might these issues vary by race, class, gender, generational group, or
sexual preference? Are these principles universal in nature or specific to a
particular group?

b. What are the social and historical roots of this process?

c. Who cares? Why are these processes and issues germane to the health,
illness, and the practice of medicine today?

d. Why are we discussing this issue in a sociology course? Make links to

broader concepts, principles, and debates in sociology.

e. Does this apply exclusively to the United States or might it apply equally to
the practice of medicine in other industrial or developing nations?

Additional Thoughts:

Each team should make every effort to make their presentation interesting and lively. Use
outside resources whenever possible. For example, you may want to find current data on
your topic and present this information in class. You might even devise a class exercise
that illustrates an important concept or issue in the readings. Do not hesitate to use visual
or literary material. These suggestions are not obligatory. They merely serve to remind you
that you have some flexibility and creativity in this presentation.
MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION INTERESTING, STIMULATING, & WORTHWHILE!
REQUIRED READINGS: The following books are available at the College Bookstore and
are on reserve in Burling Library.

Abraham, Laurie Kaye. 1993. Mama Might Be Better Off Dead: The Failure of
Health Care in Urban America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Conrad, Peter. Editor. 2009. The Sociology of Health and Illness: Critical
Perspectives. Eighth Edition. New York: Worth Publishers. (Conrad reader)

Henderson, Gail E. et al. Editors. 2005. Social Medicine Reader: Social and
Cultural Contributions to Health, Difference, and Inequality. Volume Two.
Durham, NC: Duke University Press. (Henderson reader)

Kasper, Anne S. and Susan J. Ferguson. Editors. 2000. Breast Cancer: Society
Shapes an Epidemic. New York: St. Martin’s Press.

Klass, Perri. 1987. A Not Entirely Benign Procedure. New York: Signet.

King, Nancy M. P. et al. Editors. 2005. Social Medicine Reader: Patients,

Doctors, and Ilness. Volume One. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
(King reader)

Lorde, Audre. 1987. The Cancer Journals. San Francisco: Aunt Lute Books.

In addition to the above books, there are required supplementary readings that will be made
available at the Reserve Desk in the library. Also note that on the course outline below,
some of the readings are required and some are suggested. The suggested readings are
additional sources for student interest and research. Please keep up with the syllabus by
reading the assigned chapters or articles prior to the day that topic is discussed. It is
essential to come to class prepared to discuss the readings because the readings are the
foundation of the course.

Questions to Think About While You Are Reading:

Summary:

1). What are the author's main arguments or hypotheses?

2). What types of evidence does the author present in support of his or her arguments?

3). What are some implications of the author's findings or arguments?

Evaluation:

4). Do you agree with the author's conclusions? Why or why not?

5). Do you have any problems with this study or how it was conducted?
 COURSE SCHEDULE WITH ASSIGNED READINGS

PART I: HEALTH AND ILLNESS IN PERSPECTIVE

Jan. 20 (TU): Introduction to the Course

Required Readings:

Read introductions or prefaces in your anthologies.

Jan. 22 (TH): The Experience of Illness

Required Readings:

Frank, Arthur W. “The Remission Society” in Conrad reader, pp.186-189.

Frank, Arthur. “The Cost of Appearances” in King reader, pp.26-31.

Trillin, Alice Stewart. “Betting Your Life” in King reader, pp.32-40.

Rapp, Rayna. “Extra Chromosomes and Blue Tulips: Medico-Familial Interpretations” in

Henderson reader, pp.50-69.

Mairs, Nancy. “On Being A Cripple” in Henderson reader, pp.70-81.

Suggested Readings:

Read poetry in King reader, pp. 21-25.

Zola, Irving Kenneth. “Tell Me, Tell Me” in Henderson reader, pp.82-88.

Weaver, Gordon. “Finch the Spastic Speaks” in Henderson reader, pp.89-101.

Jan. 27 (TU): Sociological Perspectives on Health and Illness

Required Readings:

Mishler, Elliot. "Critical Perspectives on the Biomedical Model" in Brown (1992 Edition),
pp.153-66. (Supplemental reading)

McKinlay, John and Sonja McKinlay. "Medical Measures and the Decline of Mortality" in
Conrad reader, pp.7-19.

Estroff, Sue E. and Gail E. Henderson. “Social and Cultural Contributions to Health,
Difference, and Inequality” in Henderson reader, pp.4-26.
Suggested Readings:

Brown, Phil. 2000. "Naming and Framing: The Social Construction of Diagnosis and
Illness" in Brown, pp.74-103. Perspectives in Medical Sociology. Third Edition.
Prospect Heights, Ill: Waveland Press.

Bell, Susan. “Experiences of Illness and Narrative Understandings” in Brown, pp.130-145.

Freidson, Eliott. “The Social Organization of Illness” in Brown, pp.285-294.

PART II: THE SOCIAL PRODUCTION OF ILLNESS

Jan. 29 (TH): Social Factors in Health and Illness: Sex, Gender, and Sexism

Required Readings:

Ehrenreich, Barbara and Deirdre English. 1990. "The Sexual Politics of Sickness." Pp.270-
284 in The Sociology of Health and Illness: Critical Perspectives, edited by Peter
Conrad and Rochelle Kern. Third Edition. NY: St. Martin's Press. (Supplemental
reading)

Lorber, Judith. “Women Get Sicker but Men Die Quicker: Gender and Health” in Henderson
reader, pp.164-190.

Brumberg, Joan. "Anorexia Nervosa in Context" in Conrad reader, pp.112-126.

Fausto-Sterling, Anne. “The Five Sexes, Revisted” in Henderson reader, pp.202-210.

Suggested Readings:

Waldron, Ingrid. "Gender Differences in Mortality: Causes and Variation in Different

Societies" in Conrad reader, pp.38-55.

Hahn, Robert A. et al. “The Prevalence of Risk Factors Among Women in the United States”
in Conrad reader, pp.451-459.

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. 1973. The Yellow Wallpaper. Old Westbury, NY: The Feminist
Press.

Feb. 3 (TU): Social Factors in Health and Illness: Race and Racism

***In Class: Video titled "The Deadly Deception" on the Tuskegee Experiment

Required Readings:

Jones, James. 2000. "The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment" in Brown, pp.376-388.

Perspectives in Medical Sociology. Third Edition. Prospect Heights, Ill: Waveland
Press. (Supplemental reading)
McCord, Colin and Harold P. Freeman. "Excess Mortality in Harlem" in Conrad reader,
pp.30-37.

Schwartz, Robert S. “Racial Profiling in Medical Research” in Henderson reader,

pp.263-267.

Satel, Sally L. “I Am a Racially Profiling Doctor” in Henderson reader, pp.268-273.

Abraham, Laurie Kaye. Mama Might Be Better Off Dead, pp.1-24.

Suggested Readings:

Soo-Jin Lee, Sandra, et al. “The Meanings of ”Race” in the New Genomics: Implications for
Health Disparities Research” in Henderson reader, pp.218-251.

Bhopal, Raj and Liam Donaldson. “White, European, Western, Caucasian, or What?
Inappropriate Labeling in Research on Race, Ethnicity, and Health” in Henderson
reader, pp.252-262.

Jones, James. 1981. Bad Blood: The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment. NY: The Free Press.

Takaki, Ronald T. 1985. "'Diseases' of the Mind and Skin." Pp.16-35 in Iron Cages: Race
and Culture in Nineteenth-Century America. Seattle: Univ. of Washington Press.

Feb. 5 (TH): Social Factors in Health and Illness: Intersection of Race & Social Class

Required Readings:

Smedley, Brian D. et al. “Unequal Treatment: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know
about Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare” in Henderson reader, pp.123-132.

Syme, S. Leonard and Lisa F. Berkman. "Social Class, Susceptibility, and Sickness" in
Conrad reader, pp.24-30.

Banks, James et al. “Disease and Disadvantage in the United States and in England” in
Conrad, pp.55-66.

Wilkinson, Richard. “Health Inequalities: Relative or Absolute Material Standards?” in

Conrad reader, pp.102-107.

Abraham, Laurie Kaye. Mama Might Be Better Off Dead, pp.25-43.

Suggested Readings:

House, James S., Karl R. Landis, and Debra Umberson. "Social Relationships and Health"
in Conrad reader, pp.78-86.

Pearlin, Leonard I. and Carol S. Aneshensel. “Stress, Coping, and Social Supports” in
Brown, pp.146-153.
Feb. 10 (TU): Social Factors in Health and Illness: Failure of Health Care
for the Poor

Required Readings:

Farmer, Paul. “Introduction to Infections and Inequalities: Modern Plagues” in Henderson

reader, pp.105-122.

Klinenberg, Eric. “Dying Alone: The Social Production of Urban Isolation” in Conrad reader,
pp.87-101.

Kasper, Anne S. “Barriers and Burdens: Poor Women Face Breast Cancer” in Kasper and
Ferguson, pp.183-212.

Abraham, Laurie K. Mama Might Be Better Off Dead, pp.44-133; 146-178.

Suggested Readings:

McCally, Michael et al. "Poverty and Ill Health: Physicians Can, and Should, Make a
Difference" in Brown, pp.5-20.

Wilkinson, Richard G. "National Mortality Rates: The Impact of Inequality?" in Brown

(Second Edition), pp.76-82.

Davis, Bridgett. 1990. "Speaking of Grief: Today I Feel Real Low, I Hope You Understand."
Pp.219-225 in The Black Women's Health Book, E. White, ed. Seattle: Seal Press.

Feb. 12 (TH): Social Factors in Health and Illness:

Occupational and Environmental Hazards
Required Readings:

Smith, Barbara. "Black Lung: The Social Production of Disease" in Conrad reader,
pp.55-67. (Supplemental reading)

Brown, Phil. "Popular Epidemiology: Community Response to Toxic Waste Induced

Disease” in Conrad, pp.70-77.

Another reading to be announced.

Suggested Readings:

Rosner, David. 1991. Deadly Dust: Silicosis and the Politics of Occupational Disease in
Twentieth-Century America. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Phoenix, Janet. "Getting the Lead Out of the Community" in Brown, pp.632-644.

Kotelchuck, David. "Worker Health and Safety at the Beginning of a New Century" in Brown,
pp.182-192.
Feb. 17 (TU): Individual Rights vs. Individual Responsibility:
Are Individuals "Responsible" for Their Health?

***In Class: Position Paper #1 Due and Class Debate

Required Readings:

Knowles, John. "The Responsibility of the Individual" in Conrad reader (Fifth Edition),
pp.379-392. (Supplemental Reading)

Crawford, Robert. "Individual Responsibility and Health Politics" in Conrad reader

(Fifth Edition), pp.393-401. (Supplemental Reading)

Abraham, Laurie Kaye. Mama Might Be Better Off Dead, pp.134-145.

McKinlay, John B. "The Case for Refocusing Upstream: The Political Economy of Illness"
in Conrad reader, pp.578-591.

PART III: THE CULTURAL SHAPING OF HEALTH AND ILLNESS

Feb. 19 (TH): Cultural Influences on the Experience of Illness

Required Readings:

Helman, Cecil G. 1994. "Cultural Factors in Epidemiology." Pp.319-337 in Culture, Health

and Illness. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. (Supplemental reading)

Winnick, Terri A. “From Quackery to ‘Complementary’ Medicine: The American Medical

Profession Confronts Alternative Therapies” in Conrad, pp.261-277.

Hunt, Linda M. “Beyond Cultural Competence: Applying Humility to Clinical Settings” in

Henderson reader, pp.133-136.

Suggested Readings:

McCarthy Brown, Karen. 1991. Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn. Berkeley:
University of California Press.

Logan, Michael H. and Edward E. Hunt, Jr. Editors. 1978. Health and the Human Condition:
Perspectives on Medical Anthropology. Massachusetts: Duxbury Press.

Zola, Irving Kenneth. "Pathways to the Doctor---From Person to Patient" in Brown,

pp.198-213.

Todd, Alexandra Dundas. "Western Reflections on Eastern Medicine" in Brown, pp.333-362.

Goldstein, Michael. “The Emergence of Alternative Medicine” in Brown, pp.363-372.

Feb. 24 (TU): The Experience of Illness and the Politics of Breast Cancer

Required Readings:

Ferguson, Susan J. and Anne S. Kasper. “Introduction—Living With Breast Cancer” in

Kasper and Ferguson, pp.1-22.

Zones, Jane S. “Profits from Pain: The Political Economy of Breast Cancer” in Kasper and
Ferguson, pp.119-151.

Steingraber, Sandra. “The Environmental Link to Breast Cancer” in Kasper and Ferguson,
pp.271-299.

Lorde, Audre. The Cancer Journals, pp.9-54.

Suggested Readings:

Read other chapters in Breast Cancer: Society Shapes an Epidemic.

Feb. 26 (TH): Discussion of Breast Cancer, continued

Required Readings:

Mason, Bobbie Ann. “Spence + Lila” in King reader, pp.60-70.

Rosenbaum, Marcy E. and Gun M. Roos. “Women’s Experiences of Breast Cancer” in

Kasper and Ferguson, pp.153-181.

Mathews, Holly F. et al. “Coming to Terms with Advanced Breast Cancer: Black Women’s
Narratives from Eastern North Carolina” in Henderson reader, pp.137-163.

Lorde, Audre. The Cancer Journals, pp.55-77.

Suggested Readings:

Read other chapters in Breast Cancer: Society Shapes an Epidemic.

March 3 (TU): The Experience of Illness and the Politics of AIDS

***To Be Scheduled. Video: "And The Band Played On"

Required Readings:

Fee, Elizabeth and Nancy Krieger. 1993. “Understanding AIDS: Historical Interpretations
and the Limits of Biomedical Individualism.” American Journal of Public Health
83(10):1477-1486. (Supplemental Reading)

Herek, Gregory M. “AIDS and Stigma” in Conrad reader, pp.126-134.

Weitz, Rose. "Life With AIDS" in Brown, pp.242-255. (Supplemental Reading)

Suggested Readings:

Shilts, Randy. 1987. And The Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic.
NY: St. Martin's Press.

Conrad, Peter. "The Social Meanings of AIDS" in Brown (1992 Edition), pp.416-428.

March 5 (TH): Societal Response to the AIDS Epidemic

Required Readings:

Verghese, Abraham. 1994. Pp.9-15 in My Own Country: A Doctor's Story of a Town and Its
People in the Age of AIDS. NY: Simon and Schuster. (Supplemental reading)

Epstein, Steven. “Democracy, Expertise, and AIDS Treatment Activism” in Brown,

pp.609-625. (Supplemental Reading)

Armstrong, Elizabeth M. et al. “Whose Deaths Matter? Mortality, Advocacy, and Attention
to Disease in the Mass Media” in Conrad, pp.134-152.

Suggested Readings:

Rosser, Sue. 1991. "Perspectives: Women and AIDS." AIDS Education and Prevention.
3:230-240.

Articles from "Has America Adequately Funded AIDS Research and Treatment?" Pp. 70-93
in The AIDS Crisis, edited by Bruno Leone. San Diego, CA: Greenham Press. 1991.

PART IV: THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF MEDICAL CARE

March 10 (TU): The Rise of Medical Authority I: The Dominance of Physicians

Required Readings:

Conrad, Peter and Joseph Schneider. "Professionalization, Monopoly, and the Structure of
Medical Practice" in Conrad reader, pp.194-200.

Wertz, Richard and Dorothy Wertz. "Notes on the Decline of Midwives and The Rise of
Medical Obstetricians" in Conrad reader, pp.200-212.

McKinlay, John B. and Lisa D. Marceau. “The End of the Golden Age of Doctoring” in
Conrad reader, pp.213-239.

Light, Donald W. “Countervailing Power: The Changing Character of the Medical Profession
in the United States” in Conrad reader, pp.239-248.
Suggested Readings:

Starr, Paul. 1982. The Social Transformation of American Medicine. New York: Basic Books

Rosenberg, Charles. "Rise of the Modern Hospital" in Brown, pp.523-539.

Buss, Fran Leeper. 1980. La Partera: Story of A Midwife. Ann Arbor, Michigan: The
University of Michigan Press.

Logan, Onnie Lee and Katherine Clark. 1989. Motherwit: An Alabama Midwife's Story. NY:
E. P. Dutton.

March 12 (TH): The Rise of Medical Authority II: Nurses and the Order to Care

***In class: Video titled "Sentimental Women Need Not Apply: A History of the
American Nurse" and Discussion

Required Readings:

Reverby, Susan. "A Caring Dilemma: Womanhood and Nursing in Historical Perspective" in
Conrad reader, pp.251-261.

Killion, Cheryl. 1990. "Service Without Subservience: Reflections of a Registered Nurse."

Pp.240-250 in The Black Women's Health Book, edited by Evelyn White. Seattle:
Seal Press. (Supplementary reading)

Suggested Readings:

Charon, Rita. “To Listen, To Recognize” in Brown, pp.566-573.

Chambliss, Daniel. “Nurses’ Role: Caring, Professionalism, and Subordination” in Brown,

pp.591-604.

Melosh, Barbara. 1982. The Physician’s Hand: Work Culture and Conflict in American
Nursing. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

March 16th - March 27th: SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS (Begin Reading Perri Klass' book)
PART V: BECOMING A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

March 31 (TU): The Socialization of Doctors I: The Medical School Experience

Required Readings:

Fox, Renée. "Training for Uncertainty" in Brown (1992 Edition), pp.450-459. (Supplemental
Reading)

Anspach, Renee. "The Language of Case Presentation" in Conrad reader, pp.386-404.

Dwyer, James. “Primum Non Tacere: An Ethics of Speaking Up” in King reader,
pp.130-142.

Hilfiker, David. “Facing Our Mistakes” in King reader, pp.145-153.

Klass, Perri. A Not Entirely Benign Procedure, pp.13-152.

Suggested Readings:

Konner, Melvin. 1987. Becoming a Doctor: A Journey of Initiation Into Medical School. New
York: Viking.

Mishler, Elliot G. "The Struggle Between the Voice of Medicine and the Voice of the
Lifeworld" in Conrad reader, pp.358-369.

April 2 (TH): The Socialization of Doctors II: Internships and Residency

***To Be Scheduled: PBS Video "So You Want To Be A Doctor?" (60 min)

Required Readings:

Konner, Melvin. “Basic Clinical Skills: The First Encounters” in King reader, pp.89-101.

Gawande, Atul. “The Learning Curve” in King reader, pp.102-120.

Basson, Marc D. et al. “Case Study: The ‘Student Doctor’ and a Wary Patient” in King
reader, pp.121-126.

Brewster, Abenaa. “A Student’s View of a Medical Teaching Exercise” in King reader,

pp.127-129.

Shapiro, Daniel. “Perspective Shift” in King reader, pp.143-144.

Klass, Perri. A Not Entirely Benign Procedure, pp.153-286.

Suggested Readings:

Lorber, Judith. "Women Physicians in Three Countries" in Brown (1992 Edition),

pp.459-467.

Gamble, Vanessa Northington. 1990. "On Becoming a Physician: A Dream Not Deferred."
Pp.52-64 in The Black Women's Health Book, edited by Evelyn White. Seattle: The
Seal Press.

PART VI: MEDICINE AS AN INSTITUTION OF SOCIAL CONTROL

April 7 (TU): Medicine, Deviance, and Social Control

Required Readings:

Zola, Irving. "Medicine as an Institution of Social Control" in Conrad reader, pp.470-480.

Pernick, Martin S. “Defining the Defective: Eugenics, Aesthetics, and Mass Culture in Early
20th-Century America” in Henderson reader, pp.29-49.

Conrad, Peter. “The Shifting Engines of Medicalization” in Conrad reader, pp.480-492.

Suggested Readings:

Conrad, Peter. "Medicalization and Social Control" in Brown, pp.104-129.

Conrad, Peter and Joseph Schneider. 1992. Deviance and Medicalization: From Badness
to Sickness. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Fox, Renée. "The Medicalization and Demedicalization of American Society" in Conrad

reader, Sixth Edition, pp.414-418.

April 9 (TH): Increasing Medicalization and the Social Control of Women

Required Readings:

Riessman, Catherine. "Women and Medicalization: A New Perspective" in Brown (1992

Edition), pp.190-220. (Supplemental reading)

Ferguson, Susan J. 2000. “Deformities and Diseased: The Medicalization of Women’s

Breasts” in Kasper and Ferguson, pp.51-86.

Hartley, Heather. “The ‘Pinking’ of Viagra Culture: Drug Industry Efforts to Create and
Repackage Sex Drugs for Women” in Conrad, pp.287-296.

Diamond, David et al. “Case Study: Culture Clash Involving Intersex” in Henderson reader,
pp.211-217.
Suggested Readings:

Zimmerman, Susan. “The Medical Management of Femininity: Women’s Experiences with

Silicone Breast Implants” in Brown, pp.256-281.

Bell, Susan. "Political Gynecology: Gynecological Imperialism and the Politics of Self-Help"
in Brown, pp.767-779.

Rothman, Barbara Katz. "Midwives in Transition: The Structure of a Clinical Revolution" in

Conrad, Sixth Edition, pp.340-348.

Morgan, Kathryn Pauly. 1998. “Women and the Knife: Cosmetic Surgery and the
Colonization of Women’s Bodies.” Pp. 147-165 in The Politics of Women’s Bodies,
edited by Rose Weitz. New York: Oxford University.

PART VII: ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN MEDICINE-NEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES

April 14 (TU): The Moral Order in Medicine

Required Readings:

Read Part III: “Health Care Ethics and Clinicians Role” in King reader, pp.161-228.

Dubler, Nancy and David Nimmons. 1993.” The Kindness of Strangers.” Pp. 11-38 in Ethics
on Call. New York: Vintage Books. (Supplemental Reading)

Suggested Readings:

Flynn, Eileen P. 2000. “Ethical Decision Making in the Health Care Context.” Pp. 3-21 in
Issues in Health Care Ethics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Conrad, Peter. “A Mirage of Genes” in Conrad reader, pp.438-447.

Millman, Marcia. "Medical Mortality Review: A Cordial Affair" in Brown (Second Edition),
pp.620-633.

Sherwin, Susan. 1992. No Longer Patient: Feminist Ethics and Health Care. Philadelphia:
Temple University Press.

April 16 (TH): Medical Ethics and the Termination of Life

Required Readings:

Read Part IV: “The End of Life” in King reader, pp.230-288.

Timmermans, Stefan. “Social Death as Self-Fulfilling Prophecy” in Conrad reader,

pp.370-386.

Russ, Ann J. et al. “‘Choosing Later’ about Dialysis Treatment Near the End of Life” in
Conrad, pp.405-414.
Suggested Readings:

Flynn, Eileen P. 2000. “Ethical Issues at the End of Life.” Issues in Health Care Ethics.
Read Chapters 2, 11, 12, and 13.

Zussman, Robert. 1992. Intensive Care: Medical Ethics and The Medical Profession.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

April 21 (TU): Medical Technologies and Transplants

Required Readings:

Simmons, Paul D. “The Artificial Heart: How Close Are We, and Do We Want to Get
There?” in Conrad reader, pp.418-424.

Kutner, Nancy. "Issues in the Application of High Cost Medical Technology" in Conrad
reader, pp.424-438.

Abraham, Laurie Kaye. Mama Might Be Better Off Dead, pp.179-231.

Suggested Readings:

Flynn, Eileen P. 2000. “Organ Retrieval and Transplantation.” Pp.166-184 in Issues in

Health Care Ethics. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Waitzkin, Howard. "A Marxian Interpretation of the Growth and Development of Coronary
Care Technology" in Conrad reader, Sixth Edition. pp.248-261.

Fox, Renée C. and Judith P. Swazey. "Transplantation and the Medical Commons" in
Brown, pp.389-405.

Banta, David et al. "Concerns about Medical Technology" in Brown (1992 Edition),
pp.428-437.

April 23 (TH): Improving Health Care for Patients

Required Readings:

Abraham, Laurie Kaye. Mama Might Be Better Off Dead, pp.232-262.

McKnight, John. "Politicizing Health Care" in Conrad reader, pp.507-510.

Withorn, Ann. “Helping Ourselves: The Limits and Potential of Self Help” in Conrad reader,
pp.510-519.

Brown, Phil et al. “Embodied Health Movements: New Approaches to Social Movements in
Health” in Conrad, pp.592-604.
Suggested Readings:

Riessman, Catherine Kohler. "Improving the Health Experiences of Low Income Patients" in
Conrad reader (Fifth Edition), pp.436-449.

Pitts, Victoria. “Illness and Internet Empowerment: Writing and Reading Breast Cancer in
Cyberspace” in Conrad reader, pp.519-533.

PART VIII: THE CURRENT MEDICAL SYSTEM

April 28 (TU): The Structure of U.S. Medical Care

Required Readings:

Relman, Arnold S. "The Health Care Industry: Where Is It Taking Us?" in Conrad reader,
pp.280-286.

Stone, Deborah A. “Doctoring as a Business: Money, Markets, and Managed Care” in

Conrad reader, pp.329-336.

Weiss, Gregory. “Uninsured in America” in Conrad, pp.339-347.

Sered, Susan Starr and Rushika Fernandopulle. “Young, Sick, and Part-Time: The
Vulnerability of Youth and the New American Job Market” in Conrad, pp.347-355.

Suggested Readings:

Callahan, Daniel and Arnold S. Relman. Each author takes a side in the debate on
"Rationing Medical Care" in Conrad reader, pp.493-502.

Gray, Bradford H. “The Evolution of Investor-Owned Hospitals Companies” in Brown,

pp.470-483.

Light, Donald W. “The Origins and Rise of Managed Care” in Brown, pp.484-503.

Mechanic, David. “Changing Medical Organization and the Erosion of Trust” in Conrad
reader, 7th edition, pp.224-230.

Fry, John, et al. "The U.S. Health Care System" in Conrad reader, 7th edition, pp.234-243.

April 30 (TH): Changing Current Medical Practice I: U.S. Health Care Reform

Required Readings:

Quadagno, Jill. “Why the United States Has No National Health Insurance: Stakeholder
Mobilization Against the Welfare State, 1945-1996" in Conrad, pp.301-320.

Bodenheimer, Thomas and Kevin Grumach. "Paying For Health Care" in Conrad reader,
pp.321-329.
Readings on Obama’s health care plans.

Suggested Readings:

Rothman, David J. "A Century of Failure: Health Care Reform in America" in Conrad
reader, Seventh Edition, pp.292-301.

Himmelstein, David U. and Steffie Woolhander. "A National Health Program for the United
States: A Physician's Plan" in Brown, pp.552-565.

Navarro, Vicente. "Why Congress Did Not Enact Health Care Reform" in Brown (Second
Edition), pp.582-588.

Morone, James A. "Nativism, Hollow Corporations, and Managed Competition: Why the
Clinton Health Care Reform Failed" in Brown (Second Edition), pp.589-594.

May 5 (TU): Changing Current Medical Practice II: Comparative Health Care Systems

Required Readings:

Light, Donald W. "Comparative Models of 'Health Care' Systems" in Conrad reader,

pp.538-515.

Deber, Raisa Berlin. “Health Care Reform: Lessons from Canada” in Conrad reader,
pp.553-522.

Gabe, Jonathan. "The British National Health Service: Continuity and Change" in Conrad
reader, pp.560-536.

Suggested Readings:

Gill, Derek. "A National Health Service: Principles and Practice" in Conrad and Kern,
pp.480-494.

Lee, Sidney. "Health Policy, A Social Contract: A Comparison of the United States and
Canada" in Brown (1992 Edition), pp.388-395.

Horn, Joshua. "The Conquest of Syphilis in China" in Brown (1992 Edition), pp.595-608.

Dahlgren, Goren and Finn Diderichsen. "Strategies for Equity in Health: Reports From
Sweden" in Brown (1992 Edition), pp.396-414.

May 7 (TH): Summary of Course

No assigned readings for today. Spend time reading through your syllabus and your course
notes to get an overview of how far we have come this semester.

FINAL EXAM: Due During Final Exam Week, May 11th to May 15th
Have a Great Summer Break!!!