DSOC 4230 - Gender and Health: Concepts, Data, Theories and Evidence

Fall. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: DSOC 1101 and DSOC 3130 or permission of instructor.

A. Basu.

This course will provide a broad, policy-oriented introduction to the subject of gender as a factor in health and development. In recent years the literature on the subject has grown and led to several calls to make gender issues central to policies for health in particular and development in general. While much of this literature is focused on the special disadvantages of women and girls, the course will include this focus but will also ask important questions related to the ignored distinction between sex and gender. When we think about the health impact of the social and economic disadvantages of women, we will look at the ways in which these female handicaps also translate into poor health outcomes for others, as well as put a brake on development in general.

Outcome 1: Identify and describe the presence and role of gender in health outcomes in different parts of the world.

Outcome 2: Interpret conceptually the empirical evidence on gender differences in health and use this understanding to infer policy options to reduce these differences.

Outcome 3: Differentiate between gender ‘differences,’ ‘inequalities,’ and ‘inequities’ in health outcomes.

Outcome 4: Analyze the impact of gender differences in health on development outcomes.

Outcome 5: Develop indicators of gender and health that would be useful to implement the UN’s post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda.