Can inequality make us ill?
By Gabriella Patterson
Introduction:
In this report, I will discuss how social inequality affects different groups in society, I
will also be expanding on how sociological perspectives help our understanding of
the social inequalities in diverse groups within society. Furthermore, how
demographic data is used in service provision in a local health and social care
setting. I will provide an overview of patterns and trends in health and ill health
within different social groups.
P5: Explain how social inequality affects different groups in society.
Social inequality affects different groups in society by a variety of social factors such
as social class, gender and ethnicity. The definition of “social inequality "is the
presence of unequal treatment and opportunities experienced by different social
positions or statuses within a social group or society.
Race
People from ethnic minority groups are more likely to receive poorer health care
experiences than white counterparts just due to discrimination. Some ethnicities
have negative labels attached to them which then leads to that ethnicity to face
unfair treatment, discrimination and prejudice.
One example of this happening is within the Muslim community in the UK
experiences a range of health inequalities in comparison with the wider population.
A lack of equal opportunities have been given to Muslims over the years which
include in employment, housing, health care and education.
According to studies, Muslims are much less likely to be in full-time employment
due to discrimination they face in the workplace. The study found that 20% of
Muslims aged around 16-74 were in full-time employment in comparison with 35%
of the overall population. The study also found out that communities encouraged
women to focus on getting marriage and having children rather than having a full-
time job.
Overall, around 20% of Muslim woman aged 16-74 were documented as having a
family and looking after their home compared to the overall 6% female population.
The impact of ethnic inequality can cause the individuals affected to become
, marginalised from society and therefore experience the prejudice and discrimination
which can lead to psychological problems such as depression.
Muslims have been constantly discriminated against in society due to the negative
labels and misconceptions attached to their religion. This has made it harder for
Muslims to express and embrace their religion due to fear of being harassed. In
particular, Muslim children have a history of being prime targets for hate
occurrences. Muslim children often struggle in education as they don’t get the same
treatment and support from teachers; they are frequently being victimised and
isolated by their fellow peers because of their faith and beliefs.
The rise of Islamophobia in schools has caused reports multiple counts of verbal and
physical attacks against Muslim youths and they are highly vulnerable to being
recipients of this form of abuse. In 2017, 839 cases of Islamophobia were reported
along which 6% (53 accounts) all were found in education institutions. Muslim
youths are at high risk of developing psychologic problems associated with bullying,
such as depression, anxiety and paranoia along with many other mental health
problems. Young Muslim women in schools face all forms of islamophobia, one
example getting verbal taunts shouted at them, such as ‘terrorist’ due to religious
attire e.g. headscarf or wearing modest attire.
Sexism
Another example of social inequality is sexism. The legal definition of sexism states
“Any act, gesture, visual representation, spoken or written words or behaviour upon
the idea”.
Sexism primary affects woman and girls in society however it can also affect men.
Sexism is strongly linked to stereotyping and gender roles. Sexism came around
because of the idea that men overruled women and we lived in a male dominated
and male supremacy society. The prejudice against woman in society is the idea that
woman is not equal to a man and woman can't do the same things as a man can do.
In 1967, Being a stay-at-home mother came popularised with around 49 percent of
mothers being a stay-at-home mother. This referred to a woman fending for her
husband and children at home while her husband the “breadwinner” brought the
income into the house. Woman were constantly told that they were “too sensitive
and weak”, and they should stick to their naturing ways of raising children instead
of working. Women are constantly being shut out and diverted to other jobs that
stereotypically fit the requirement of ‘feminine skills’ and being denied jobs that
require ‘masculine skills’ such as construction worker. Women are not seen as
‘strong enough’ or that it’s ‘manly job’. Similarly, how Men are judged for wanting
to have a career in nursing. However, the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
By Gabriella Patterson
Introduction:
In this report, I will discuss how social inequality affects different groups in society, I
will also be expanding on how sociological perspectives help our understanding of
the social inequalities in diverse groups within society. Furthermore, how
demographic data is used in service provision in a local health and social care
setting. I will provide an overview of patterns and trends in health and ill health
within different social groups.
P5: Explain how social inequality affects different groups in society.
Social inequality affects different groups in society by a variety of social factors such
as social class, gender and ethnicity. The definition of “social inequality "is the
presence of unequal treatment and opportunities experienced by different social
positions or statuses within a social group or society.
Race
People from ethnic minority groups are more likely to receive poorer health care
experiences than white counterparts just due to discrimination. Some ethnicities
have negative labels attached to them which then leads to that ethnicity to face
unfair treatment, discrimination and prejudice.
One example of this happening is within the Muslim community in the UK
experiences a range of health inequalities in comparison with the wider population.
A lack of equal opportunities have been given to Muslims over the years which
include in employment, housing, health care and education.
According to studies, Muslims are much less likely to be in full-time employment
due to discrimination they face in the workplace. The study found that 20% of
Muslims aged around 16-74 were in full-time employment in comparison with 35%
of the overall population. The study also found out that communities encouraged
women to focus on getting marriage and having children rather than having a full-
time job.
Overall, around 20% of Muslim woman aged 16-74 were documented as having a
family and looking after their home compared to the overall 6% female population.
The impact of ethnic inequality can cause the individuals affected to become
, marginalised from society and therefore experience the prejudice and discrimination
which can lead to psychological problems such as depression.
Muslims have been constantly discriminated against in society due to the negative
labels and misconceptions attached to their religion. This has made it harder for
Muslims to express and embrace their religion due to fear of being harassed. In
particular, Muslim children have a history of being prime targets for hate
occurrences. Muslim children often struggle in education as they don’t get the same
treatment and support from teachers; they are frequently being victimised and
isolated by their fellow peers because of their faith and beliefs.
The rise of Islamophobia in schools has caused reports multiple counts of verbal and
physical attacks against Muslim youths and they are highly vulnerable to being
recipients of this form of abuse. In 2017, 839 cases of Islamophobia were reported
along which 6% (53 accounts) all were found in education institutions. Muslim
youths are at high risk of developing psychologic problems associated with bullying,
such as depression, anxiety and paranoia along with many other mental health
problems. Young Muslim women in schools face all forms of islamophobia, one
example getting verbal taunts shouted at them, such as ‘terrorist’ due to religious
attire e.g. headscarf or wearing modest attire.
Sexism
Another example of social inequality is sexism. The legal definition of sexism states
“Any act, gesture, visual representation, spoken or written words or behaviour upon
the idea”.
Sexism primary affects woman and girls in society however it can also affect men.
Sexism is strongly linked to stereotyping and gender roles. Sexism came around
because of the idea that men overruled women and we lived in a male dominated
and male supremacy society. The prejudice against woman in society is the idea that
woman is not equal to a man and woman can't do the same things as a man can do.
In 1967, Being a stay-at-home mother came popularised with around 49 percent of
mothers being a stay-at-home mother. This referred to a woman fending for her
husband and children at home while her husband the “breadwinner” brought the
income into the house. Woman were constantly told that they were “too sensitive
and weak”, and they should stick to their naturing ways of raising children instead
of working. Women are constantly being shut out and diverted to other jobs that
stereotypically fit the requirement of ‘feminine skills’ and being denied jobs that
require ‘masculine skills’ such as construction worker. Women are not seen as
‘strong enough’ or that it’s ‘manly job’. Similarly, how Men are judged for wanting
to have a career in nursing. However, the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
