Unit 3+4 Heakth and Society

What is social structure?

A system of social positions occupied by groups or individuals. Within the social structure, these positions are grouped into structural units with different functions, meanings, and purposes, each characterized by institutions like family, religion, law, and economy.

What does social structure study?

It focuses on how people are organized in patterns of relationships, not individual goals or organizations.

What are social strata?

Groups of people with similar status positions, indicated by education, salary, occupation, settlement type, or ethnicity.

What is social stratification?

A hierarchy of social strata where the more favored are at the top and the less privileged at the bottom; structured inequalities between groups of people.

What does social stratification determine?

Differential access to rewards and opportunities based on social position.

What is the difference between open and closed societies?

Open societies allow mobility between strata; closed societies have little mobility and fixed positions, often at birth.

What are the main tendencies of social stratification in industrialized societies?

Growing number of higher

What is social mobility?

Movement of individuals or groups between socioeconomic positions.

What is vertical mobility?

Movement up or down the socioeconomic scale; upward or downward mobility.

What is lateral mobility?

Geographical movement between regions, towns, or neighborhoods.

What is intragenerational mobility?

Mobility within a person’s own career during their lifetime.

What is intergenerational mobility?

Mobility between generations (children vs. parents or grandparents).

What are closed stratification systems?

Systems with little opportunity for mobility; positions are ascribed and fixed at birth.

What are open stratification systems?

Systems that allow higher rates of mobility and achievement

What is absolute poverty?

When people lack the minimum resources needed to maintain a physically healthy life.

What does absolute poverty measure?

Basic human needs like food, clothing, and shelter.

What is relative poverty?

Poverty defined in relation to the living standards of a society at a specific time.

Who is associated with the concept of relative deprivation?

Peter Townsend.

What does relative deprivation mean?

Poverty is defined by an inability to participate in normal social activities due to lack of resources.

Why is relative poverty important?

It reflects social expectations and changes as societies become more affluent.

What is the social demography of health?

The study of how health and illness relate to social status, resources, and access to care.

What did Chadwick find about death rates?

Life expectancy differed by occupation; servants and laborers lived shorter lives than professionals.

What are the main variables in health inequality research?

Age, gender, race, and social class/socioeconomic status.

What is mortality rate?

The number of deaths per 100,000 people within a certain time period.

What is infant mortality rate (IMR)?

Deaths of infants under one year old per population; an indicator of a country’s health and development.

What is life expectancy at birth?

The average number of years a newborn is expected to live if conditions remain the same.

What did Wilkinson (1996) propose?

The concept of epidemiological transition—once a country reaches a certain wealth level, major causes of death shift from infectious to degenerative diseases.

According to Wilkinson, what improves health most in rich societies?

Income equality, not total wealth.

What are the results of prolonged life?

An aging population, changing demographics, more demand for elderly care, and financial strain on working populations.

What are the three dimensions of age?

Biological age (years lived), psychic age (how one perceives aging), and social age (life course background).

How does age affect health?

Each life stage has different health conditions and social roles, which vary by social group.

What are gender differences in health?

Women live longer but suffer more non

What is the main cause of male excess mortality?

Higher exposure to risky activities, dangerous jobs, and stress.

What role does alcohol and smoking play in gendered health differences?

Men drink and smoke more, increasing disease and accident risks.

What are the three explanations for gender differences in morbidity and mortality?

A. Risk behavior, B. Social deprivation, C. Female roles and resource distribution.

What is “edgework”?

Risky behavior linked to male social roles, especially in young men.

How does social deprivation affect women’s health?

Women are more likely to be poor, single parents, and reliant on benefits, leading to poorer health.

How do female roles affect women’s health?

Women prioritize family spending over themselves, often reducing their own comfort and health needs.