Chapter 11 Learning Objectives

In this chapter, you should learn to do the following:

1.    Define health according to the definition developed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

2.    Explain what sociologists mean by the social determinants of health.

3.    Explain how education is a key predictor of an individual’s health.

4.    Clarify how health disparities exist across social class, gender, race, and colonial contexts.

5.    Outline what health care systems are, what kind of system exists in Canada, and what criticisms have been levelled against it.

6.    Explain what health care policies are and their role in the Canadian health care system.

7.    Clarify how sociology of health researchers understand and study disability in Canada.