Inequalities In Health And Ethnicity Essay

The aim of this essay is to discuss and understand the link between inequalities in health and ethnicity. This aim will be fulfilled in a number of ways. Firstly by defining and evaluating what race and ethnicity are, distinguishing between the different definitions. Secondly, explaining the biological, as opposed to cultural, differences between race and ethnicity; whilst also explaining sociological studies of race as a social definition; stating why sociologists have abandoned the biological concept of race. Finally, it will explain and evaluate given statistics on health and ethnicity, which will be used as evidence of the unequal health needs and treatment of individuals.

In England, not all individuals look alike, although they are the

Sociologists and other social scientists have abandoned the scientific basis of race and have credited the interrelationships between culture and social structure in creating different groups of society.

Health inequalities are preventable and unjust differences in health status experienced by certain ethnic/population groups. People in lower socio-economic groups are more likely to experience chronic ill-health and die earlier than those who are more advantaged.

Poor health is caused by a wide range of factors, including biological determinants (age, sex, hereditary factors), and wider social determinants such as education, social position, income, local environment, and experiences of racism and racial discrimination. The social determinants of health are unequally distributed across ethnic groups, leading to unjust and preventable inequalities in health.

In the article “The Dynamics of Diversity: evidence from the 2011 Census” many of the inequalities between ethnic groups across England are shown. Some of the findings are that inequalities are seen in the health of Pakistani and Bangladeshi women. Their illness rates have both been 10% higher than White women in 1991, 2001 and