ANSO 325 The Body in Society
This course explores the body and embodiment through a social science lens. While the body is a biological entity, the body is also social. The perceptions and meanings of the body are embedded in complex sociocultural contexts. Students will examine how social processes and cultural practices shape human bodies and our everyday lived experiences. The course will also discuss bodies in relation to gender, sexuality, race, class, ability, and disability. Multimedia materials and a variety of readings are used to study the relationships between the body, culture, and society.
Note: Formerly known as SOC 325.
Prerequisites
Special information
4 Undergraduate credits
Effective May 7, 2025 to present
Meets graduation requirements for
Learning outcomes
General
- Understands concepts and approaches used to study the body and embodiment in anthropology, sociology, and related fields of study.
- Examines how gender, sexuality, race, class, ability, and disability influence embodied experiences in everyday life.
- Develops critical thinking skills needed to analyze contemporary social issues in relation to the body.
- Applies course materials to one¿s own life, allowing for a deeper understanding of bodily experience.
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum
Goal 5: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
- Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
- Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.
- Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.