SOC212

Wellness is seen as ?a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.?* This course explores the social dimension to wellness (or health and illness). Both health and illness vary across times and cultures ? and are related to how we define ?normal?.? Wellness is also closely related to our position in society; social identities such as socio-economic status, race and ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation impact our life chances, lifestyles, access to care, and attitudes towards health and illness. In other words, this course approaches health and illness from a sociological (rather than philosophical or ethical) perspective.??*?Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948. The definition has not been amended since 1948.