SOC150: Inequalities in Health and Labor

sociology of health, illness, and the body

how social, cultural, and historical contexts shape attitudes toward, and behaviors around, health, illness, and our bodies

social determinants of health

the range of social, economic, and technological factors that contribute to our health

health

a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

medicalization

the process by which conditions and problems of social life become defined and treated as medical conditions, and thus become the subject of medical study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Ex. pregnancy and birth, depression.

major changes in medical knowledge and organization

biotechnology (especially pharmaceuticals), patients as consumers, and managed care

sick role (Talcott Parsons)

the behaviors associated with having an illness, creates social space for non-formative social behaviors related to being ill in society, and a person must act in the way society expects a sick person to behave in order to be seen as sick and receive the treatment that being sick entitles you

responsibilities of the sick person

they must try to get well and must seek help and cooperate with medical professionals

rights of the sick role

they are exempt from normal social roles and are not held responsible for their condition

reasons people don’t play the sick role

the stigma around some diseases compels some people to hide their illness and pass as being well (depression) and there is a lack of recognition of some diseases by medical professionals

purpose of the sick role

maintains social order by managing illness as temporary, regulated states

three versions of the sick role

conditional sick role, unconditional sick role, and illegitimate sick role

conditional sick role

both rights and responsibilities apply

unconditional sick role

the responsibilities might not apply. Ex. the terminally ill may not be obligated to try to get well

illegitimate sick role

condition that is stigmatized by others, so the rights do not apply since the sick person is blamed for their condition (HIV/AIDS)

individualism in health care

there is an emphasis on individual responsibility and health as a personal project (lifestyle, choices, behavior)

critiques of the sick role

1. the sense of responsibility for our health contradicts the first premise of the sick role: that the individual is not to blame for their illness

2. sick role doesn’t adequately capture the lived experience of illness

3. there has been a shift away from acute infectious diseases toward chronic illness

functionalist perspective on illness

“being sick” is a social role, like a parent or employee. The expectations around this role help society function smoothly and separate legitimate from illegitimate claims of illness

symbolic interactionist perspective on illness

explores how the meanings of illness are socially constructed and how these meanings influence people’s behaviors; illness as a “lived experience”