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WSTP-235-01 Women's Health in the 21st Century
Fall only
No faculty information available
This course proposes an interdisciplinary exploration of what it means--historically, culturally, physically, and medically--to have a women's body. As such, it provides an introduction to the key issues affecting women's health in the United States. The course is organized as an integrated sequence of study that includes: multimedia examination of historical constructs of female physical beauty and health; analysis of theory on women's body image and the social, economic, and political influences on women's health; scientific/medical study of women's bodies (physiologically women are NOT small men); and current challenges facing women's health.
This course will strive to keep students working between theory and practice, so that positive body image and good health do not remain separate from intellectual understanding. For example, so many women's studies students intellectually understand the "problem" of body image and the associated impact on lifestyle decisions, yet many still starve themselves or adopt dangerous habits (i.e., smoking). These behaviors often result in a complex of symptoms known as the female triad: disordered eating patterns, amenorrhea (lack of menstruation), and osteoporosis. Additionally, potential cardiovascular, endocrine, and gastrointestinal consequences can occur. Thus, this course will explore the ways that women have defined their bodies, how the representation of women's bodies permeates the culture, and the resultant affects on women's sense of self-esteem and associated patterns of risk-taking behavior.
In addition to developing a sense of "ownership" regarding how we view and treat our bodies, we will explore ways that social, political, public policy, and economic issues impact women's medical care and health. Recent evidence has shown that many health conditions have been under-diagnosed in women and that this gender bias has affected the management and outcomes of these diseases. Additionally, the report of the Public Health Service Task Force on Women's Health indicated that women have been seriously under-represented in clinical research, which has led to a lack of clinical data regarding the treatment of diseases that affect women solely, predominantly, or differently. Although the course will concentrate on health in this country, we also will do some comparative readings and spend one class session about women and health in other countries--to highlight the universal issues impacting women's health.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
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