Professor, School of Kinesiology | Associate Dean, Faculty Affairs, Faculty of Education
Email: laura.hurd@ubc.ca
Phone: 604 827 0356
Lab Website: Dr. Laura Hurd’s Research Group
Office: Neville Scarf Building – Office Block, Room 2607 | 2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4
Publications: Google Scholar
Education
McMaster University, 2000, PhD, (Sociology)
Wilfrid Laurier University, 1994, MSW, (Social Work)
Queen’s University, 1992, BA, (Sociology)
Courses Taught
KIN 261 Health, Policy and Society
KIN 425 Aging, Health and the Body
KIN 500 Aging, Health and Physical Activity: Socio-cultural Perspectives
Research Area
Research Interests
Publications
See Google Scholar for an up-to-date list of publications.
Research and Teaching
My SSHRC and CIHR funded research examines how older adults’ perceptions and experiences of their aging bodies are influenced by age, gender, and health norms. In particular, my work has considered the impact of ageism, ableism, gender ideals, healthism, heterosexism, and social class on older women’s beauty and weight management practices, older men’s engagement in physical activity, older adults’ perceptions of and responses to masculinity and femininity ideals, the self-care and health promotion practices of older adults, older adults’ use of technologies such as power wheelchairs and scooters, sexuality and body image in later life, and media representations of aging.