Eeva Sointu                                                      

Assistant Professor

Eeva is an Assistant Professor in Medical Sociology. She was born Lapland in Northern Finland . Her studies took her to the UK , where she completed a BA in Religious Studies, an MA in 'Religion, Culture and Society,' and a PhD in Sociology. In 2006, Eeva ventured across the Atlantic to Northampton and Smith College where she teaches courses in Medical Sociology, Introduction of the Sociology of Selfhood and Identity, Qualitative Methods and a senior seminar on contemporary therapeutic cultures.

What constitutes wellbeing and how social practices produce experiences of healing are the core themes in her research. She is particularly interested in health practices outside biomedicine. An important element of her work is charting and appreciating the mundane and the everyday. She is also interested in contemporary spiritualities.

Her recent publications include: 'The rise of an ideal: tracing changing discourses of wellbeing', in The Sociological Review 2004 vol.52 no.2 pp.255-274; 'Recognition and the creation of wellbeing', in Sociology 2006 vol.40 no.3 pp.493-510; 'The search for wellbeing in alternative and complementary health practices', in Sociology of Health and Illness 2006 vol.28 no.3 pp.330-349; and 'Healing bodies, feeling bodies: embodiment and alternative and complementary health practices', in Social Theory and Health 2006 Vol.4 no.3 pp.203-220.

Phone: 413-585-3870

Office Location: Tyler Annex 106

Office hours: T 12:00-12:50, R 3:00-4:00 and by appt.

Email: esointu@email.smith.edu

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