SOCA01H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 12: Upper Class, Feminist Movement, Inflectional Phrase
Document Summary
Chapter 12: sociology of the body: disability, aging, and. Sociologists are interested in how the human body is marked so it can be socially regulated. Social institutions always make demands on bodily appearance as a means of exerting social control: army uniform indicates membership in org and allegiance to state. Emotional expression, gesture, stance, and dress provide clues to a person"s status and purpose. Sociologists also study human bodies to analyze them as social products, entities that bear the imprint of society: height and weight are qualities influenced by social conditions and norms. Bodies are ways to express individuality: the body as a project that people shape to achieve a unique identity, gym for muscular appearance, dye hair to hide greys, piercings, tattoos, other body mod. Body can be marked unintentionally as illness and disability disfigure one"s appearance or impose bodily restrictions. Bodies reflect both ourselves and our society. Human body is central to constructing culture, personhood, and identity.
