Race Ethnicity and Health Flashcards
What is race?
Race is biologically determined difference in genetic and physical characteristics e.g. skin colour, facial characteristics -which also reflect cultural differences, separating one group from another.
what is racism?
Racism, in general terms, consists of conduct or words or practices which disadvantage or advantage people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin
what is ethnicity?
Cultural values and norms which distinguish the members of a given group from others
What are some problems with concept of ethnicity?
Conceptualisations of ethnicity can become too static – assume that everyone in an ethnic group shares the same characteristics – can lead to cultural stereotyping
Ethnicity is dynamic, evolving and changing over time - Fluidity and fusion of different ethnic cultures
You have different cultures within broad ethnic categories
What is an ethnic minority:
a category of people distinguished by physical or cultural traits, who are socially disadvantaged
Ethnic minority groups are disadvantaged as a whole in comparison to the white population in a range of different areas: Housing Employment and earnings Education Health
People who are ethnic minorities tend to ….
Less likely to be in executive or non-executive directorship
Higher rates of unemployment
Muslims experienced highest unemployment rates, lowest employment rates and lowest hourly pay rates
Poverty rates higher for children in households headed by someone from an ethnic minority
Certain ethnic groups are effected by health a lot more –>
Heart disease
Higher incidence of heart disease for men and women from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Irish backgrounds
Lower mortality rates for coronary heart disease for men born in the Caribbean and those born in West/South Africa
Stroke and high blood pressure
Increased number of deaths from strokes for men born in the Caribbean and South and West African countries, India and Ireland
Higher rates of high blood pressure for people born in African and Caribbean countries
Respiratory disease and lung cancer
Higher rates of both respiratory disease and lung cancer for people from Ireland.
Lower rates for lung cancer and bronchitis for people born in India
What are the 6 MODELS OF EXPLANATION for racial and ethnic patterns of health?
Biological factors – e.g. genetic variations
Migration – e.g. the experience of migration may be stressful and damaging to health
Socio-economic factors e.g. occupational class, income, housing tenure
Culture, beliefs and behaviour – e.g. diet, exercise, smoking, uptake of screening practices
Racism and discrimination
Health service access and use
What are the biological factors of ethnic patterns of health?
Biological factors such as genetic variations are sometimes cited as the reasons for differences in the prevalence of conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
Genetic factors and other physiological characteristics are interwoven with and shaped by social and environmental factors. E.g. low birthweight strongly influenced by mother’s material circumstances and associated with some chronic conditions in adult life
What are the migration factors of ethnic patterns of health?
Factors associated with the period immediately surrounding migration
Carry health “footprint” of country of origin
Healthier sub-group of origin population
Social migratory process – hardship, persecution
Culture, lifestyle, support network
Acculturation
Stress of various kinds
–> Doesn’t explain health differentials in the long term and in second generation migrants
What are the socio-economic factors of ethnic patterns of health?
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
Socio-economic factors a stronger determinant of health differentials than ‘race’ or ethnicity
What are the socio-economic factors of ethnic patterns of health?
Suggests that (un)healthy lifestyles or behaviours based on cultural or religious beliefs may account for health inequalities.
Criticised for victim blaming, stereotyping, overlooking diversity of socially produced categories (e.g.‘South Asians’) and ignoring socio-economic context.
What are the three types of racism?
Prejudice
Discrimination
Institutional Racism
Institutional Racism explained
Institutions (e.g. police, health service, education system) intentionally or unintentionally promote policies that favour certain groups and discriminate against others
The murder of Stephen Lawrence
New Racism
New racism (or cultural racism) uses the idea of cultural differences to exclude certain groups
Religious and cultural practices
Rise of ‘Islamophobia’ and Antisemitism
Also “Europhobia”