Kristen A. Hardy

Kristen A. Hardy is a Lecturer in the Department of Religion and Culture at the University of Winnipeg with concurrent appointments as Adjunct Professor in Health Studies and Associate Member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at Brandon University. She is also a Teaching Affiliate at Brandon University's Centre for Teaching, Learning & Technology. Currently completing her doctoral studies at York University, her work bridges sociology, medical anthropology, and cultural studies.

Research Focus: Hardy investigates systemic pathologization of physical/mental diversity through frameworks including:

• Critical analysis of medical systems and weight bias
• Historical construction of madness and fatness
• Human-nonhuman boundary studies
• Intersections of religion, health, and embodiment

Teaching: She develops courses examining medical systems through cultural lenses, including:

• Health, Healing & Spirituality (REL-2513)
• Sexuality in Religious Context (REL-2507)
• Sociology of health/medicine and gender studies