Sociology 1020 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Ageism, Gerontocracy

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 1020
• Professor: Michael Haight

Document Summary

Complex series of social factors determines average height of any population and complex series of social consequences flow from differences in height. Historically, being heavier indicated higher social status. Body weight influences status because of cultural expectations we associate with it. Being overweight increases a person"s (especially women"s) chances of being poor and poverty encourages obesity. Being heavier indicates lower income, lower socio-economic status. Obesity impacts poverty and in turn, poverty impacts obesity. Obesity can cause poverty bc of low self-confidence, health implications. Poverty can cause obesity bc they are not able to buy healthy food, unable to spend time to make a good meal. The regional distribution of obesity in canada, 2004. Most obesity out east bc of high poverty rates, high stress-level jobs, regional differences on how much emphasis is on body image. Bodies are not just biologically but also socially defined.