Sociology of Health, Physical Activity & Sport (HLTH 3055)
Exam 2022
For all exam questions students are required to show:
Clear concise answers. Well-constructed sentences and language showing clear
understanding of topic area. A well-constructed argument that is consistent with
presented evidence. When drawing from academic literature or discussing concepts,
students are required to provide references.
A critical appreciation for the complexity of social issues in health, physical activity
and sport, acknowledging that decisions made by those in positions of power are not
necessarily in the interests of all. That is students need to clearly show an
understanding of topics through a postmodern, criticalist position.
Multiple perspectives through their responses. Students need to demonstrate their
ability to critically reflect and develop their own thought based on evidence.
The issues and/or the contributing factors across the areas presented. Again,
students are required to provide references where needed.
What action(s) can we (both in our professional and personal lives) take regarding
the topic. How can we contribute to creating a more equitable society?
Students need to go beyond descriptive explanations and provide examples of critical
thinking that clearly shows their understandings of inequities that have been produced
through the modernist perspective.
Students need to demonstrate their understand health outside the body and the
implications this has for individuals, communities, societies and the institutions and
organisations involved.
Students are required to provide a response for every question.
Each question is worth 20 marks. Each response should be ~500 words.
Responses should be written as prose, not dot point format.
Each response should consist of a short essay that demonstrates your knowledge and
understanding of the topics covered across the course.
Responses should include ideas, concepts and positions covered across multiple weeks of the
course.
Each response requires referencing both in-text as well as a reference list using UniSA Harvard
conventions.
1. From a sociological perspective power can be viewed in various ways. Critically discuss power
through Weberian, Marxist, Parsons & Foucaultian positions. Provide examples of how power within
each of these positions can create inequalities from one of your own future career professions for
different population groups in society.
2. The dominance of medical discourses can be identified within the ‘healthy lifestyle’ paradigm.
Drawing from policy examples from one of your own career professional pathways, critically discuss
how and why at least two ‘healthy lifestyle’ values may impact (both positively and negatively) the
health and wellbeing of particular population groups (eg. children/young adults, refugees/migrants,
older people, people with a disability, First Nations peoples, LBGTQI+ people).
3. Dominant Western discourses position the human body, health & physical activity through a bio-
medical lens, however they can also be viewed as socially constructed and embodied. Critically
discuss how viewing the human body, health and physical activity as socially constructed and
embodied can reveal inequalities for particular population groups (eg. children/young adults,
efugees/migrants, older people, people with a disability, First Nations peoples, LBGTQI+ people).
Examples concerning the social structures from one of your own future career professions should be
included in the discussion.
4. The inte
elationship between the environment, climate change & health has been well
established. Critically discuss at least three climate change impacts that can directly or indirectly
influence particular population groups (eg. children/young adults, refugees/migrants, older people,
people with a disability, First Nations peoples) opportunities to engage in physical activity and/or
sport. Explain how one of your own future career professions could be systemically involved in
overcoming one of these climate change impacts on a particular population group.
5. Critically discuss how the social constructions of class, race and gender intersect to create
inequalities in Australian society in relation to health, physical activity or sport. Provide at least two
examples concerning these intersections through one of your future career professions.