Sociology Flashcards
State the 4 models of the mechanisms of health inequality?
lifecourse
materialist
behavioural
psychosocial
Describe the life course model
disadvantages accumulate through lifetime
Describe the materialist model
hazards that are inherent in the present form of social organisation and to which some people have no choice but to be exposed
Describe the behavioural model
class differences in behaviours that are health-damaging or health-promoting and in principle are subject to individual choice
Describe the psychosocial model
feelings relating to inequality may affect behaviours (eg. social support, work)
Define nuclear family
family group consisting of parents and their children, typically living in one home residence
Define extended family
when 3 or more generations live together in one household
Define arranged marriage
a marriage planned by another individual or group
Define symmetrical family
where a family divides all responsibilities equally between partners
State some protected characteristics
age gender re-assignment pregnancy + maternity sex religion/belief sexual orientation
Define sex
biological differences between people who are male, female or intersex
Define gender
how someone identifies
broad spectrum
Define non-binary
not feeling that your gender identity fits naturally into the generic categories of male and female
Define transgender
people whose current gender identity differs from the sex they were registered as at birth
How can being a member of an ethnic minority group affect health?
more likely to experience forms of disadvantage that affect their health:
- poor job security, stressful working conditions, unsocial hours
- racial discrimination + harassment
- place-based disadvantage (eg. living in poorly-serviced areas)
State some social factors that have been shown to affect health
education, employment status, income level, gender, ethnicity
What is the effect of socioeconomic position on health?
lower socioeconomic position = higher risk of poor health
What are the obligations of the patient under the sick role?
demonstrate motivation to get well
seek medical help + comply with the physician
What are the rights of the patient under the sick role?
exemption from normal role responsibilities
not to be held responsible for their sickness
What are the obligations of the doctor under the sick role?
to be technically competent
to be neutral + objective
What are the rights of the doctor under the sick role?
to be allowed access to taboo areas (sick person’s body) - ask intimate questions + examine physically
to be treated by society as a professional with a degree of independence
Describe the doctor’s role in diagnosing and legitimising illness
Parson’s model = illness is a temporary deviance from a person’s usual social role within a society that is oriented towards work + productivity
doctors = gatekeepers to sick role, legitimate sick role by naming + diagnosing illness
Describe medical dominance
profession’s authority to determine what counts as sickness
dominance over patients
dominance over other health professions
What is a key critique of the sick role?
lack of acknowledgement of chronic illness
