1. BTEC Health and Social Care L3
Unit 7 – Sociological Perspectives
Lesson 5

2. Recap
Key terminology when identifying patterns and trends of health and illness inequalities:
Mortality rates – the number of people who have died in the population in a given year.
Infant mortality rate – the number of deaths occurring in infant under the age of one year old per 1000 live births.
Morbidity rate – this refers to the number of people who have a particular illness during a given period.
Disease prevalence – the total number of cases of a specific disease in a population during a specified period of time.
Disease incidence – the number of new cases of a specific disease occurring in a population during a specified period of time.

3. M2 and D1
In order to achieve M2 and D1, you will need to create a report discussing the trends and patterns of health and illness using sociological perspectives.
What are the key perspectives?
Functionalism,
Marxism,
Interactionism,
Postmodernism,
Collectivism,
Feminism.

4. What do you think ? What is social class ?
How might social class promote inequalities when looking at the concept of health and ill health?

5. Explanations for class inequalities
Artefact,
Natural/social selection,
Cultural/behavioural,
Structural/material.

6. Artefact ?
Trends may be understood as a statistical illusion – thus occurring as a result of an investigative procedure (survey),
Link between social class and health is thus deemed as NOT real.

7. Artefact ctd….
Illsey – social class 7-8 has now declined thus its membership is too small to use as a basis for comparison with other social class group.
However, when all working class groups are put together (5- 8) we can identify significant differences with the others social class groups.

8. Natural/social selection
People are in a state of illness or poor health because they are seen to be weaker than other:
Long term ill = difficulty in finding a job + lack of education,
Usually found in the lower social classes,
Link to functionalism and meritocracy,
Can be criticised as it fails to acknowledge that poor health is caused poverty.

9. Cultural/behavioural
This explanation blames the individual for the choices which they have made:
Lifestyle choices + smoking = cancer,
Socialisation process or cultural norms given are inadequate or do not match the values of mainstream society,
Values taught are then passed on from generation to generation thus creating a cycle of ill health.

10. BUT
What about the reasons which can lead individuals to be “forced” into an unhealthy lifestyle ?

11. Structural/material
This explanation blames inequalities in wealth and income for health inequalities:
Less healthy is not consumed through choice but rather through necessity,
Lifestyle choice such as smoking and drinking and substance abuse due to poverty, etc …

12. Documentary – Teenage Heroin Epidemic
How might the life expectancy, mortality and morbidity of the individuals portrayed in the documentary be affected by their lifestyle choices ?
How might those be affected by structural and material factors ? How might the Marxist, Feminist, Functionalist or Interactionists view this documentary?

13. Structural/material
Those deemed to be from lower parts of the working class are more likely to suffer from:
Poverty which negatively impacts on mortality and morbidity rates as seen in the documentary on heroin, more likely to be victims of overdosing, premature death and more likely to contract illnesses such as HIV/AIDS through sharing needles and dangerous work such as prostitution,
More likely to be living in low quality rented accommodation – damp, overcrowded;
More likely to be in a poorer environment – pollution, vandalism, anti-social behaviour;
Lack of access to facilities which might work towards preventing illness on the basis of access.

14. Structural/material
Link structuralist view to the Marxists – capitalism and exploitation of those from the working class;
Research the INVERSE CARE LAW;
Regions , social groups whose needs is minimal get the most resources, those whose need is greatest get the least;
Link to north – south divide (postcode lottery).

15. The trend which can be identified when looking at differences in health and illness when looking at life expectancy and social class is that those from the working classes have a lower life expectancy than those from the middle classes. Statistics have showed that those from the middle classes live up to the age of 80, whereas those from the working classes only live up to 60. The key perspective which would be used in order to explain those differences is Marxism, as they state that those from the middle classes (bourgeoisie) due to their higher incomes tend to be able to access health services which can help them maintain their health for longer such as consultants, therapist, etc.
However, this perspective fails to take into account the fact that some members of the working classes choose to engage in behaviours which can be detrimental to their health, thus fail to take full responsibility to remain health as argued by the New Right, who claim that members of the lower classes socialise their children into unhealthy behaviours.

16. Gender differences 4 explanations: Biological, Cultural/behavioural,
Materialist/structural,
Feminist.

17. Biological
Women have a higher rate of morbidity, as the visit the doctor more often than men. This can be explained through the biological functions of women's bodies:
Menstruation, contraception, infertility, pregnancy.
As women live longer they suffer more ill health.

18. Cultural/behavioural
Different socialisation practices leads to different values, norms and roles which impact on health and life expectancy:
Masculinity – admitting to pain is seen as a sign of weakness, and engagement in high risk behaviours,
Femininity – socialisation encourages women to express their emotions.

19. Material/structuralist
Way work is organised can be negative for men:
Unemployed – impact on physical and mental health (inability to fulfil the breadwinner role),
Working class people tend to do high risk work which might expose them to dangerous materials,
Retirement – can cause a loss of self esteem and social isolation.
Women:
Low paid and usually part time,
Leads to stress and poverty
Differences with regards to social class with those from middle class background seen a s more economically independent.

20. Feminist Bernard – marriage less healthy for women:
Triple shift – Dunscombe and Marsden ,
Double day - Doyal,
Staying at home with children can lead to depression and social isolation.

21. M2 and D1 - REPORT tips Due Monday 6th of January 4pm (reception)
In order to achieve M2, you will need to select two social groups of your choice from the following:
Social class,
Gender,
Geographical explanations.
You will need to discuss the following trends and patterns under the above social groups:
Life expectancy,
Mortality rates,
Morbidity rates
You will need to consider the following aspects in your explanation any of the following perspectives :
Functionalism, collectivism, interactionism, feminism, marxism, postmodernism, new right.

22. M2 and D1 - REPORT tips Due Friday 5th of February 2016
I would recommend that you use the following bullets point and subheading for your report:
Social Class:
Life expectancy,
Mortality rates,
Morbidity rates.
Gender:
Geographical location
Feel free to swap one of those for infant mortality rates if you choose to do so.

23. M2 and D1 - REPORT tips Due Monday 6th of January 4pm (reception)
In order to achieve the D1 criteria, you will be required at the end of your report to answer one the following questions:
Is there sufficient reliable evidence to suggest there is a difference between the well being between gender/social class/geographical location?
Is there sufficient evidence to claim that infant mortality/ mortality/ morbidity rates vary between gender/social class/ geographical location?
You will need to ensure that you do PEEC once and answer that question in depth.