Public or Private: economy, organization and the gendering of Western healthcare c. 1750-1950
About
This course traces the contested evolution of universal healthcare, shaped by ideological debates over state responsibility, access, and funding. From 1750 to the mid-20th century, government involvement in healthcare grew slowly, amid tensions with as well as between private providers, entrepreneurs, and philanthropic actors. Despite limited state engagement, the period saw a surge in medical institutions, practitioners, and education—a consumer revolution in healthcare.
Focusing on the early market-driven interplay between public and private sectors, the course examines how expanding services impacted marginalized groups, professionalized medical knowledge, and how it affected the gendered division of labor. It also explores how the medical marketplace shaped individual agency and how emerging state initiatives reconfigured these dynamics.
Prerequisites and selection
Entry requirements
Admission to the course requires a Bachelor of Arts degree (or equivalent) in the humanities, social sciences, or health sciences.
Selection
Selection is based upon the number of credits from previous university studies, maximum 165 credits.
