BSS: Race/Ethnicity/Health

Question 1

Define race

Answer 1

• Biological division of species into groups based on the frequency in which certain heredity traits appear among its members.

(Chosen for us)

Question 2

Define ethnicity

Answer 2

• Social division of people into group based on their identification with shared cultural characteristics. Markers of ethnicity may include: language, food, religion, clothing, origins, myths and tradition, music and art.

(Chosen ourselves)

Question 3

What does the concept of race lack?

Answer 3

• Any scientific credibility

Question 4

What is essentialism?

Problems with the concept of ‘Race’ as an essentialist perspective.

Answer 4

• View that people or objects have a set of attributes that are necessary to their identity

> Physical characteristics that used to explain cultural differences…used it to justify things like European colonialism
> Pseudo-scientific theories that try to link physical differences to distinct temperaments/behaviours..idea that race affects ability, intellect

• Suggests that there are fixed, biologically determined differences between racial groups that determine their abilities, behaviors, or characteristics.
  = oversimplifies and misrepresents the complex and multifaceted nature of human diversity. It can lead to harmful assumptions about the superiority or inferiority of certain racial groups based on perceived essential qualities. An essentialist perspective has been used historically to justify discrimination and oppression.

Question 5

Is ‘Race’ a biological/genetic or social concept?

Answer 5

• Race= mainly social concept. Scientifically: no evidence for major genetic differences between groups of human beings

e.g. Gene frequencies in Black Americans differ from those in Black South Africans. And for that matter, gene frequencies differ between people in North and South Wales, yet no one would think of classifying those two populations as two different races.

Question 6

What is racism?

Answer 6

• Conduct, words or practices which disadvantage or advantage because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin.
  > Stems from superiority of a group over another based on attributes seen as important e.g. physical characteristics, religion, language & culture. May translate to actions to maintain this position.

Question 7

What is intersectionality?

Answer 7

• Interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.

Question 8

What is the problem with the concept of ethnicity?

Answer 8

• Conceptualisations of ethnicity can become too static – assume that everyone in an ethnic group shares the same characteristics – can lead to cultural stereotyping (example)
  ➢ Ethnicity is dynamic, evolving and changing over time
• Too general or broad
  ➢ Issues of categorisation and measurement
  ➢ Issues related to assumptions
  ➢ Different cultures within broad ethnic categories

Question 9

Definition of ethnic minorities

Answer 9

• Category of people distinguished by physical or cultural traits, who are socially disadvantaged

Minorities have two major characteristics:
* Share a distinctive identity
* Subordination e.g. have less income,
less occupational prestige etc. than the ‘majority’ population

Question 10

Give examples of health inequalities in relation to COVID19

Answer 10

Question 11

How might ethnic minorities be socially disadvantaged compared to the rest of the population?

Answer 11

• Housing- overcrowded, hard to get
• Employment and earnings- unemployment rate= 2x as high
• Education- attainment differences have decreased over the years
• Health- likely to live in most deprived areas of UK. Poorer health than British White population.

Question 12

What are the Six models of explanation for ‘racial’ and ‘ethnic’ patterns of health?

Answer 12

Question 13

Biological factors such as genetic variations are sometimes cited as the reasons for differences in the prevalence of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Criticise the biological factors model

Answer 13

• Genetic factors and other physiological characteristics are interwoven with and shaped by social and environmental factors. e.g. low birthweight = related to mother’s material circumstances.
• Biological factors alone are unable to account for the wider ‘racial and ethnic’ patterning of health status e.g. Groups categorised under the same broad ethnic category show different distribution patterns of disease when observed individually e.g. South Asian as opposed to Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi as ethnic categories
• Socioeconomic differentials in health status within ethnic groups

Question 14

➢Carry health “footprint” of country of origin
➢In general, migrants are the healthier sub-group of origin population*
➢Social migratory process – hardship, persecution/oppression
➢Culture, lifestyle, support network
➢Acculturation: balancing of two cultures

Criticise the migration model.

Answer 14

• Doesn’t explain health differentials in the long term and in second generation migrants

Question 15

Socio-economic factors a stronger determinant of health differentials than ‘race’ or ethnicity*, what does this model sugges

Answer 15

• Migrant and minority ethnic (MME) groups experience socio- economic disadvantage
  ➢ Higher levels of unemployment for longer periods of time, deprivation etc
• Socio-economic disadvantage compromises health status

Question 16

Suggests that (un)healthy lifestyles or behaviours based on cultural or religious beliefs may account for health inequalities

Criticise the cultural model.

Answer 16

• Criticised for victim blaming, stereotyping, overlooking diversity of socially produced categories (e.g., ‘South Asians’) and ignoring socio-economic context

Question 17

What does the racism and discrimination model suggest?

Answer 17

• Conduct, words or practices which disadvantage or advantage because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin.
  > Stems from superiority of a group over another based on attributes seen as important e.g. physical characteristics, religion, language & culture. May translate to actions to maintain this position.
  Fear of racism= affects health.
• 3 dimensions= prejudice, discrimination, institutional racism

Question 18

Define:

• Institutional racism
• New racism

Answer 18

• Institutions (e.g. police, health service, education system) intentionally or unintentionally promote policies that favour certain groups and discriminate against others
• Racism has become more disguised and subtle
  = New racism (or cultural racism) uses the idea of cultural differences to exclude certain groups as well as Religious and cultural practices
  =Rise of Islamophobia,

Question 19

Describe how racism in healthcare can be:

• Direct
• Indirect/ institutional
• Ethnocentrism

Answer 19

• Direct racism - health worker treats a person less favourably because of their ethnicity.
• Indirect or institutional racism - services favour particular groups at the expense of others. It can also be found in policies.
• Ethnocentrism - inappropriate assumptions about the needs of people from minority ethnic groups on the basis of the majority stereotypes/preconceptions.

Question 20

Describe the Health service use and access model.

Answer 20

• Inequality in access e.g. Inverse Care Law (from year 1 lecture)
• Primary Care- ethnic minority patients are more likely to be dissatisfied with various aspects of the care received and wait longer for an appointment
• Language barriers in consultations

Question 21

The reasons for this burden of ill health mainly relate to…. rather than….

Answer 21

• Socio—economic factors, the effects of racism and negative experiences of medical and health services rather than a genetic or cultural explanation

Question 22

Identify two differences in the health of minority ethnic groups compared to the
health of white people

Answer 22

• South Asian people with CHD wait longer for referral to specialist care than White patients and are less likely to receive revascularisation procedures

Question 23

Identify and briefly explain two ways in which people from ethnic minority groups are disadvantaged in the UK

Answer 23

• Employment: Ethnic minorities may face barriers in accessing quality job opportunities. They often encounter hiring biases, wage gaps, and limited career advancement prospects compared to their white counterparts.
• Education: Disparities in educational achievement exist, with ethnic minority students, particularly Black and some Asian groups, often achieving lower academic outcomes. These disparities can be linked to factors like uneven access to high-quality schools and resources, as well as the impact of racial stereotyping and bias.
• Access to Healthcare: Some ethnic minority groups experience barriers to accessing healthcare services, including language barriers, cultural insensitivity, and a lack of awareness about available services. This can result in delayed or inadequate medical care.
• Health Outcomes: Ethnic minorities may face higher rates of certain health conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mental health issues. These disparities can be influenced by factors like socioeconomic status, cultural factors, and the impact of discrimination on mental health.