Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2005 May;59(5):350-5.
doi: 10.1136/jech.2004.024562.

Embodiment: a conceptual glossary for epidemiology

Nancy Krieger  1
Affiliations
Review

Embodiment: a conceptual glossary for epidemiology

Nancy Krieger. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2005 May.

Abstract

This construct and process are central to ecosocial theory and epidemiological inquiry. Recognising that we, as humans, are simultaneously social beings and biological organisms, the notion of "embodiment" advances three critical claims: (1) bodies tell stories about-and cannot be studied divorced from--the conditions of our existence; (2) bodies tell stories that often--but not always--match people's stated accounts; and (3) bodies tell stories that people cannot or will not tell, either because they are unable, forbidden, or choose not to tell. Just as the proverbial "dead man's bones" do in fact tell tales, via forensic pathology and historical anthropometry, so too do our living bodies tell stories about our lives, whether or not these are ever consciously expressed. This glossary sketches some key concepts, definitions, and hypotheses relevant for using the construct of "embodiment" in epidemiological research, so as to promote not only rigorous science but also social equity in health.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Int J Epidemiol. 2001 Feb;30(1):111-7 - PubMed
    1. Int J Epidemiol. 2001 Aug;30(4):668-77 - PubMed
    1. Ethn Dis. 2001 Fall;11(4):800-16 - PubMed
    1. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2002 Mar;56(3):167-70 - PubMed
    1. Am J Public Health. 2002 Jul;92(7):1086-95 - PubMed