Accessibility statement

Body and Society - SOC00062I

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  • Department: Sociology
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module summary

In this module, you will explore the diverse ways that bodies are implicated in our social, political and cultural lives. You will consider the discipline and regulation of the body, the body as a marker of class, distinction, aesthetic norms, consumption and social hierarchy.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

How has the body become central to our self-identity and social action? In recent decades, the social sciences and humanities have given greater attention to the human body. In this module, you will explore the diverse ways that bodies are implicated in our social, political and cultural lives. We consider the discipline and regulation of the body, the body as a marker of class, distinction, aesthetic norms, consumption and social hierarchy. Further, we investigate body work where the labour of some bodies (often women and the low paid) are put to work on other bodies, such as in the care sectors, and the body as ‘a project of the self’, to be invested in through fitness regimes and bodily modification.

Module learning outcomes

Convey your understanding core sociological concepts, theorists and perspectives about the body.

Demonstrate knowledge of key empirical research and case studies in the sociology of the body.

Articulate and present with others reflections on key debates in the sociology of the body in written and verbal formats.

Apply the insights of the module to your own experience and examples from everyday life

Communicate the changing contemporary and historical culture of embodiment in different times and places.

Problematise ‘eurocentric’ bodily norms through engagement with ‘non-western’ socio-cultural research and perspectives.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

For formative work - short written assessment - students will receive written or verbal feedback on how to improve their skills in areas that will contribute towards their summative assessment. The formative assessment provide practice for the summative task which are in line with MLOs 1-3 particularly being able to apply sociological concepts to real life examples.

For summative work - essay - students will receive an overall mark and grading according to clearly defined criteria for assessing their knowledge, skills and abilities in line with LOs 1 to 6. They will also receive written feedback showing areas in which they have done well and those areas in which they need to improve that will contribute to their progress.

Indicative reading

Brown, N. and Webster, A. (2004) New Medical Technologies and Society. Cambridge: Polity Press.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.