Body, Culture and Disability

3 Units

This course examines the ways that the body is constructed through culture, media, and policy and how that, in turn, defines disability. Students will explore the socio-historical shifts in views and treatment of the body and the role of powerful others/institutions in defining "normal" and "abnormal" bodies. We examine how labels are used to classify, marginalize, and contain social difference. We explore the intersections of the body, disability, and other social identities such as gender expression. Finally, we consider the moral and ethical issues in professional paradigms designed to contain or terminate flawed bodies, such as addiction treatment, assisted suicide, and prenatal testing. Counts as a Communication Intensive course. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course.