Health

In AQA A-Level Sociology, the topic of 'Health' is studied within the 'Beliefs in Society' option, but it also intersects with other modules like 'Social Stratification' and 'Crime and Deviance'. This topic examines how health and illness are socially constructed, meaning that definitions of what it means to be 'healthy' or 'ill' vary across cultures, time periods, and social groups. It explores the role of medicine as a form of social control, the impact of social inequalities on health outcomes, and the ways in which patients and healthcare professionals interact within the medical system.

Understanding health from a sociological perspective is crucial because it challenges the biomedical model that dominates Western medicine. Instead of viewing illness purely as a biological malfunction, sociologists argue that social factors—such as class, gender, ethnicity, and age—significantly influence who gets sick, how they are treated, and their chances of recovery. This topic also critically examines the power of the medical profession, the rise of alternative medicine, and the global inequalities in healthcare access, making it highly relevant to contemporary debates about the NHS, pandemics, and health disparities.

For A-Level students, mastering this topic requires engaging with key sociological theories (Functionalism, Marxism, Interactionism, and Feminism) and applying them to empirical studies. You will need to evaluate concepts like the 'sick role', 'medicalisation', and the 'social model of disability'. This topic not only prepares you for exam questions but also equips you with critical thinking skills to analyse health-related news and policies in your daily life.