HELP! need to write first sociol essay in univ Discuss way in which health is socially determined by class?

Question

i don't seem to understand what is important when answering this question. the heading that came with the topic is: Health inequalities persist in contemporary society... and then the question. What do i do with this?? Do I talk about class? What class is?? That people who are poorer have worse health?

Answer 1

eg. that people of the lower class might have less access to health care or take into account cost of meds.

use statistics.

Answer 2

hmm can put all in one. family history of genetics. Poor for nutrutional lact of $$

Answer 3

Don't know.sorry.

Answer 4

You use your knowledge of different theorists  on class to put forward what they would say about present day health inequalities. You  are basically giving the different arguements and then summing up.

Think back to all the theorists named in your lectures and look at your reading list - pick some out  and come at it from different perspectives.

Discuss means discuss the sociological theories regarding this phenomenon..

Answer 5

You've got some fine answers above, regarding government vs private health, less time to prepare meals, also the accessibility and easy preparation of junk food. Like they said these are the obvious practical reasons, now you must look at the theories you have studies in class and put it into context, why? Because these answers are simple, what isn't simple is why in a modern day wealthy society patterns of inequality continue to exist? ie: how does society function, in that it precisely creates class differences where some people must work several shifts a day in order to be able to buy some meager cheeseburgers to feed their family, and can't pay for private healthcare. Why hasn't society addressed this situation? Why isn't there an adequate universal healthcare system, where those with more and less money all get equal care and attention? So health inequalities persist in contemporary society, not because there is not the possibility to produce enough healthy food or support enough hospitals for everyone, after all there is plenty of money around... there is still a persistent flaw in society itself...  that's what you must find out   ;) good luck

Answer 6

first..poorer people do not have adequate healthcare. they rely on government medical care, which usually has long lines and not as responsive as other healthcare.

also, people in the lower class do not have a lot of money to spend on food. healthier food is more expensive than junk food. junk food is more accessible. mcdonalds 3x a day everyday is cheaper AND easier than buying food and cooking meals each time.also people in the lower class often have to work many jobs in order to pay for the bills. a bag of hot cheetos is easier to give to the kids then trying to make them a healthier tuna sandwich.

SO.. CLASS definitely correlates with HELATH.

Answer 7

Class is usually used in a descriptive sense in modern times i.e. wage inequality. The question is asking do people with lower wages and resources have lower health. This is a poor way of describing how class is reproduced through ecudation and socialisation etc but wage and resource inequality is probably the primary mechanism through which health ineqaulities are produced.

Ask yourself how class affects people and how buying power influences what resources people have access to.

Poorer people might

have access to poorer education

have poorer oppurtunity to eat well

have access to only the basic health services provided by the state.

Also they may not:

Have coats for cold weather

Adequate heating in houses etc.

Wherever you live you can probably find information about this online from voluntary charity agencies the governemt and the OECD might have some useful statistics.

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/4000079...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_and_...

Answer 8

First, think about the question, and everything that might be relevant to either side,a nd to the connection between them.

Start jotting down ideas -- even loony ones (evaluate later).

Review your course readings, looking for relevant ideas, and look at the Contents and Index for your course books for relevant passages. Take notes from that. Do whatever other research you need to do.

Then see what other ideas fall out of that process.

Put it aside. Then come back to it next day, and look over what you've got, and think some more.

The idea is to think it through first, then assemble your ideas, tossing the silly ones.

Figure out what you have to say, organize that, THEN start writing.

Don't forget to put that aside, then come back and read it over, and improve it.

What they're looking for is that you can take the concepts and lines of reasoning you've been learning in the class, and apply them intelligently to a particular question. USE what you've been learning to shed light on that question or problem.

Notice, it asks "in what WAYS does class effect health" -- so you're not being asked merely to say it DOES, but to explain how and why.