Inequalities and Privilege

Question 1

what is privilege?

Answer 1

the norms, structures or patterns in society that work for or against a group of people, that are unrelated to the individual’s merit or behaviour

Question 2

what are they?

Answer 2

they are invisible systemic forces at play that privilege some social groups over others - sexism, heterosexism, racism, ableism, colonialism, classism - they are unfair social structures that have profound effects on health and therefore produce inequities in morbidity and mortality

Question 3

how id disadvantage and advantage produced?

Answer 3

the system of inequality and privilege interacting which produced a complex pattern of unearned disadvantage (opression) and advantage (privilege)

Question 4

in the system of inequality what factors may give someone privilege?

Answer 4

male, upper class, white, able-bodied, settler, cis, striaght

Question 5

what may this result in for patient care?

Answer 5

stigmatising attitudes, assumptions, unconscious bias, lack of insight

Question 6

what is an example of privilege and how this might affect health?

Answer 6

class - those in lower socio-economic classes have higher prevalence of smoking and CVD. This may be due to stress. It is hard to get out of this balance as they are focusing on money and keeping house etc rather than exercise. Eating healthy is also very expensive.