Sociology Of Dichotomy

Foucault’s definition of the clinical gaze allows us to understand and visualize the way in which “modern healthcare” has come to operate. Foucault tells us that under the clinical gaze patients are dehumanized; they are reduced to their ailment, something to be cured or fixed. In the U.S., doctors use their expert knowledge and status as authority figures to establish a hierarchical relationship with patients. This relationship combined with the clinical gaze creates a rigid set of norms for interaction between doctors and patients, which often leaves patients feeling alienated. Although the El Paso/Juarez region is transnational, distinctive national differences in healthcare practices have created a visible dichotomy in the way doctor/patient …show more content…
Kathleen O’Connor in the fall 2013 semester as an undergraduate anthropology student. This was my first encounter with the idea of a connection between healthcare and social science. The courses that cemented my decision to study the dichotomy between physician/patient relationships in the U.S. and Mexico were Sociology of Disability with Dr. Angela Frederick and Sociological Theory with Dr. Carina Heckert. In the Sociology of Disability course with Dr. Frederick, we discussed how society constructs disability, and therefore how disability is approached. We used the ideas of stigma and intersectionality to analyze how society constructs disability. Instead of designing universally accessible spaces, society perpetuates the clinical gaze by attempting to “fix” disability. In Sociological Theory with Dr. Heckert, the class focus was covering the main contributors to Sociological Theory from the beginnings of sociology until contemporary times. The course enabled me to learn how to properly utilize and apply sociological theory. During the spring of 2016, I received a position as an undergraduate teaching assistant for Dr. Frederick. The position consisted of editing for Dr. Frederick, as well as helping her find relevant reading material. Through this position, I was able to receive the mentorship necessary to be able to become a successful graduate student candidate. Dr. Frederick’s mentorship allowed me to see what is required of graduate students and gave me the opportunity to review the quality of work expected from a professional in this field. I was also exposed to a variety of readings that would be useful in my attempts to further my academic career. This position gave me a better understanding of the workings of the Sociology and Anthropology department and made me feel comfortable in my ability to integrate successfully and excel as a graduate student. The fall 2015 and