I have chosen the key-word The Body .
DEFINITION: Physically, I think it means the flesh of an individual. Socially, it is powerful in how it is able to define the worth of an individual in society via racism, health, and sexuality.
PURPOSE: I intend to create a visual either artistically or graphically that shows the way in which the body intersects with many sociological issues in society today. An example of this format is a painting, drawing, multimedia piece. Some of the generic conventions of this format are purposeful colors, clear lines, purposeful use of text.
CONTENT: I intend to talk about my key-word in relation to health, racism, and sexism. I want to show the different ways the body has been manipulated as a social construction all in one visual.
COURSE THEMATIC: I think that my key concept intersects/overlaps with class in these ways.
It covers the theme of intersectionality that has been pervasive throughout the class. This class has focused on sexualed and racialed minority groups. It is well known that the social construction of the body further marginalizes these groups. I want to be able to cohesively show this marginalization via this project.
QUESTIONS: I am struggling with/ cannot seem to figure out/ do not know how to approach my research project argumentatively. I want to make sure I have a strong argument. I want my argument to focus on how the body has become a sociological construct in many different ways, and how it is all intersectional. However, I am worried that my argument may be too simple. I think I may need to do more research and make a more directed argument so that my project is more effective.
SOURCES: I have decided to use the following five sources. The first two give a more academic perspective on the social implications of “the body.” I think this is a good step for me to understand what kind of commentary is already out there about “the body” and its implications in society. The last two are commentaries on the relationship between the body and racism and society’s marginalization of the body. I think both provide valuable perspectives that can help me form my argument.
- Jackson, S., Scott, S. (2014). Sociology of the Body and the Relation between Sociology and Biology. In: Holmwood, J., Scott, J. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Sociology in Britain. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137318862_25
- Biefeld, S.D., Stone, E.A. & Brown, C.S. Sexy, Thin, and White: The Intersection of Sexualization, Body Type, and Race on Stereotypes about Women. Sex Roles 85, 287–300 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-020-01221-2
- Nina G. Jablonski Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology. (2022, September 13). Racism has a physical impact on the body — here’s how. The Conversation. Retrieved December 7, 2022, from https://theconversation.com/racism-has-a-physical-impact-on-the-body-heres-how-141587
- Marginalized bodies. The World and The Body. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2022, from https://culturalcommons.wordpress.ncsu.edu/gender/