Sociology Study Guide Unit 5 Health & Medicine

University:
Concordia University Wisconsin
Course:
SOC 1010 | Introduction to Sociology
Academic year:

2022
Views:

348

Pages:

2
Author:

Marilyn James

Health & Medicine Illness….as a social construct? ● When someone brings up the social construct of health, it can confuse the many people who view health as something that definitely exists and is not man-made. Although there is truth to this belief, it is worth noting that our culture chooses which diseases are stigmatized and which disabilities are legitimate. ● Most can agree that our society treats diseases such as mental disorders and STDs unfairly. The quality of the establishments for these diseases can be lower than average. They can be located in a separate area from other healthcare organizations or be situated in poorer areas. These stigmas can prevent people from getting help and consequently worsen their illness. ● Contested illnesses such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are illnesses that are seen as legitimate by some medical professionals, but illegitimate by others. The inconsistency can impact how someone gets treatment and which one they receive. The illness experience ● Different people can view the same illness differently. Some people might deem their illness as a massive inconvenience that is preventing them from living their life to the fullest and completing their responsibilities. Someone else’s illness might lead them to change their perspective on life and re-imagine themselves. The health of Americans ● The United States healthcare system is both advanced and unadvanced depending on which aspect is being examined. ○ For example, as residents in one of the wealthiest countries, Americans have better health in comparison to the rest of the world. Still, other countries surpass the U.S. when it comes to giving all citizens care. ● The most common mental disorders in the United States are anxiety and mood disorders. ○ Nearly 18% of American adults are susceptible to an anxiety disorder within a year and 28% are susceptible to it within a lifetime. ○ On the other hand, an estimated 10% of American adults are vulnerable to a mood disorder within a year and 21% are vulnerable to it within a lifetime. Discrimination against disabilities ● Before the Americans with Disabilities Act, disabled Americans often did not have access to the same opportunities and social institutions as their non-disabled counterparts. ○ For example, a wheelchair user would struggle to use a sidewalk without wheel-chair accessible curbs. ○ Another example is blind people being unable to receive information because of the absence of braille. ● Disabilities can impact a person’s employment. ○ A 2011 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics said that people with disabilities had a higher unemployment rate than those without disabilities in 2010. However, this statistic only considers those actively searching for work. The different types of healthcare and their effectiveness ● The U.S. offers a variety of healthcare programs: Medicare for people 65+ and people with disabilities, Medicaid for those with low income, the Indian Health Service for Native Americans, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. ● Despite this selection, however, many Americans still lack health insurance. In 2019, an estimated 8% of Americans didn’t have health insurance.