15. ETHNICITY AND ILLNESS (PART 1)

Question 1

1. What is Race?

Answer 1

• Race is a concept used to biologically differentiate groups of people
• it is based on:
  - superficial characteristics
  - skin colour
  - facial features

Question 2

2. What is Culture?

Answer 2

• Culture refers to anything that is made by human beings
• it does not derive from nature
• culture refers to people’s constructions, experiences, beliefs and values

Question 3

3. What are some examples of people’s Cultures?

Answer 3

• their ways of life
• their traditions
• their fashion statements
• their beliefs
• their customs
• their food

Question 4

4. Which Greek word does Ethnicity derive from?

Answer 4

• Ethnos
• this means nation

Question 5

5. What is Ethnicity?

Answer 5

• it is the social divisions of people into groups
• it is based on their identification with shared cultural characteristics
• it is based on their identification with other people

Question 6

6. What is a Shared Culture?

Answer 6

• it refers to aspects such as:
  
  • language
  • food
  • religion
  • clothing
  • origins
  • myths
  • traditions
  • music
  • art

Question 7

7. Why is Shared Culture important?

Answer 7

• it makes people feel connected and accepted
• they develop a sense of belonging

Question 8

8. What is an Ethnic Group?

Answer 8

• it is a social membership
• it is a part of someone’s identity
• they identify themselves with other members in their ethnic group

Question 9

9. What is an Ethnic Origin?

Answer 9

• it is a common ancestry
• it is a place of origin

Question 10

10. What are Ethnic Boundaries?

Answer 10

• boundaries that are constructed and maintained by social groups themselves
• they are a set of criteria that dictates who belongs where
• there is a mentality of us vs them
• ethnic groups tend to construct enemies
• the members of the ethnic group tend to integrate and work closer together due to the common enemy

Question 11

11. Why can it be said that Ethnicity is fluid?

Answer 11

• people may associate themselves with many ethnic groups
• many people change their identification with an ethnic group
• many people have multiple ethnic identities
• people may not strongly identify themselves with an ethnic group

Question 12

12. What causes Ethnic fluidity?

Answer 12

• Migration
• Globalisation

Question 13

13. What can be said about the Life Expectancy of minority Ethnic Groups?

Answer 13

• they have a lower life expectancy
• they experience more stigma
• they have poorer health
• they experience discrimination
• their access to health care is limited

Question 14

14. What is Intersectionality?

Answer 14

• there is an intersection between the background of the individual and the social factors that surround them
• as well as how they influence each other

EG: racism, sexism, discrimination

Question 15

15. Are people’s experiences confined to their ethnic groups?

Answer 15

• no
• people are influenced by exposure to many other social experiences

Question 16

16. What is Ethnoisation?

Answer 16

• it is when a condition is attributed to a specific ethnic group
• this can lead to stereotypes and incorrect information

Question 17

17. Is there a direct link between Ethnicity and Ill Health?

Answer 17

• no
• there is a link between ethnicity and social factors
• and then there is a link between social factors and ill health

Question 18

18. What factors result in Ethnic Minority Groups having poorer health?

Answer 18

• differences in culture
• different health behaviours
• socioeconomic disadvantages
• adopting the western lifestyle
• low population density
• racism

Question 19

19. What do Migrants bring with them?

Answer 19

• their own understanding of health and illness
• this understanding is culturally induced
• they may not be willing to make changes

Question 20

20. Is it possible for Migrants to have poor health literacy?

Answer 20

• yes
• they may not be aware of the possible causes of conditions
• they may not know where to go to ask for help
• they may not know their rights in their host country
• they may need more support to understand the health care available to them

Question 21

21. What are the Socioeconomic disadvantages that people from Ethnic Minority Groups face?

Answer 21

• they come into the country as low-income workers
• they do the jobs that the local people are not willing to do
• they are more likely to live in poverty
• they may even be unemployed

Question 22

22. What is Adopting the Western Lifestyle?

Answer 22

• second and third generation migrants will tend to adopt the western lifestyle
• this lifestyle is unhealthy

Question 23

23. What is a Low Population Density?

Answer 23

• migrants may live in areas where they cannot find many people from their home country
• this may make them feel less integrated into the host society
• they may feel socially isolated
• they lose their sense of belonging
• they do not feel supported
• they are more likely to be victims of racism and discrimination
• they have less opportunities for social support
• they have less opportunities for lay triggers

Question 24

24. What is Racism?

Answer 24

• migrants may be stigmatised by local people
• they may feel excluded
• they may feel socially isolated
• they can experience daily and chronic stress
• it is a very problematic experience for migrants
• it is associated with ill health
• it can lead to feelings of injustice
• it can lead to depression
• it results in social disadvantages

Question 25

25. Read through this summary.
    Does everything make sense?

Answer 25

• yes