Gianna Pagliotti-
social construct
an idea created and accepted by people in the culture
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social constructionism
emphasizes cultural and historical aspects of phenomena widely assumed to be exclusively natural
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example of social constructionism: disease vs illness
disease - the biological condition
illness - the social meaning of the condition
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disease is defined as the biological condition, whereas illness is defined as ______
the social meaning of the condition
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functionalist perspective on health and illness
being sick must be controlled so that not too many people are released from their societal responsibilities at any one time
- an overly broad definition of illness would disrupt the workings of society vs. overly narrow definition would mean too many sick people walking around
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stigma
a physical or social attribute that discredits an individuals claim to complete respectability
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sick role
(functionalist) societal exceptions about the attitudes and behavior of a person viewed as being ill
-exempted from normal life
-obligated to try to get well
-physicians are gatekeepers
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conflict perspective on health and illness
subgroups are in ruthless competition for scarce resources, such as healthcare
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conflict example: inequities in healthcare
poor areas tend to be underserved because medical services are concentrated where people are wealthy
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cause of high infant mortality rates
-immigration to US of skilled medical professionals
-wealthier nations enhance quality of life at expense of poorer nations
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which sociological perspective emphasizes that inequalities in health (like IMR) are due to the unequal distribution of resources?
conflict perspective
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interactionist approach to medicine
-engage in micro-level studies of the roles played by health care professionals and patients
- interested in how physicians learn to play their occupational role
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labeling approach
-health care professionals label people "sick" or "well"
-affects how others treat us, how we see ourselves
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social epidemiology
the study of the distribution of disease, impairment, and general health status across a population
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relationship between social class and health
-crowed living conditions, substandard housing, poor diet, and stress all contribute to the ill health of many low-income people in the United States
-little or no health care in childhood or young adulthood is likely to mean more illness later in life
-people who are impoverished are less able than others to afford quality medical care
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how does race and ethnicity affect health, morbidity, and mortality?
social determinants such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, environmental exposures, and discrimination.
- higher rates of chronic diseases, mental health issues, and lower life expectancy due to these factors
-Structural inequalities, cultural differences, and healthcare disparities also contribute to variations in health outcomes among different racial and ethnic populations.
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comorbidity
the presence of more than one disorder in the same person
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comorbidity: COVID 19 examples
when Black and Hispanic Americans came down with COVID-10, they were also more likely than White people to have hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, or a heart condition
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health care delivery issues for gender minorities
the barriers and challenges faced by individuals who idenify as transgender or nonbinary
- discrimination, lack of knowledgable providers, inadquate insurance coverage
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mental illness
a disorder of the brain that disrupts a persons thinking, feeling, and ability to interact with others
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how is the perception of mental illness different from actual mental illness?
society may view mental illness through stigma, stereotypes, or misconceptions, such as equating it with dangerous behavior, mental health professionals recognize that most people with mental illnesses are not violent
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theoretical models of mental disorders
medical model and labeling theory
-each model rests on distinctive assumptions regarding treatment of people with mental disorders
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medical model
mental illness is rooted in biological causes that can be treated through medical intervention
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labeling theory
some behaviors that are viewed as mental illnesses may not really be illnesses
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fertility
the level of reproduction in a society
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Malthus's views on the rising world population
the worlds population was growing more rapidly than the available food supply
-population increases by doubling, food supply does not
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Marx perception of population growth
there was no special relationship between world population and the supply of resources
- with equitable distribution of resources, no one will starve
-capitalism directs resources to wealth creation instead of food
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Malthus: "Overpopulation is a concern."
Marx: "No, ____ is the real problem"
capitalism
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Neo-Malthusian view
agree with Multhus that population growth is outstretching the worlds natural resources
-condemn the developed nations, which despite their low birthrates consume a large share of the world
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total fertility rate
the average number of children born alive to any woman, assuming that she conforms to current fertility rates
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infant mortality rate
the number of deaths of infants under 1 year old per 1,000 live births in a given year
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environmental justice
a legal strategy based on claims that people of color are subjected disproportionately to environmental hazards
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relationship between globalization and the environment
negative effects: environmental degradation due to increased industrial activity, resource extraction, and transportation that contribute to pollution, deforestation, and climate change
positive effects: promote environmental awareness and cooperation through the sharing of sustainable practices, environmental policies, and technology
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global warming
a significant rise in the earths surface temperatures that occurs when industrial gases such as carbon dioxide turn the planets atmopshere into a virtual greenhouse
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global warming causes
human-induced actvities that increase green house meissions
-burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas)
- air pollution
-water pollution
-climate change
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global warming from a world system analysis
core nations (wealthy, industrialized) cause most emissions due to industrialization and consumption, while periphery nations (developing) suffer the worst impacts (e.g., extreme weather, food insecurity). This reflects global inequalities, where core nations exploit resources and periphery nations lack the means to adapt effectively.
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How does inequality affect peoples health and health care?
(conflict) subgroups are in ruthless competition for scarce resources, such as health care
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what are the consequences of viewing oneself (or being viewed) as ill or disabled?
(interactionist:labeling) people use symbols in social interaction, learn from others. We "label" ourselves and each other as healthy/ill/injured etc
