Socials Review Sheet

Unit 2: Quality of Life

• Definition: The standard of health, happiness, and comfort experienced by an individual or group.

Factors Affecting Quality of Life

• Economic Factors

  • Income levels

  • Job availability

  • Job satisfaction

  • Work/life balance

• Environmental Factors

  • Safety (crime levels)

  • Clean drinking water

  • Pollution levels

• Political Factors

  • Freedom of expression

  • Access to free media

  • Participation in political processes (e.g., voting, running for office)

• Social Factors

  • Race

  • Health

  • Access to healthcare and education

  • Opportunities for physical, artistic, social, and leisure activities

Indigenous Quality of Life

• According to Indigenous Corporate Training, eight factors affecting the quality of life for Indigenous people in Canada include:

1. Poorer Health

   • Higher risk of illness and early death

   • Indigenous children face higher respiratory illness rates

2. Lower Levels of Education

   • 66.4% of Indigenous individuals complete high school versus 81.7% of non-Indigenous individuals

3. Inadequate Housing and Crowded Living Conditions

   • 19.4% live in housing needing major repairs vs. 6% non-Indigenous

   • 18.3% in crowded housing vs. 8.5% non-Indigenous

4. Lower Income Levels

   • Indigenous earn 75 cents per dollar compared to non-Indigenous in 2015 (up from 73 cents in 2005)

5. Higher Rates of Unemployment

   • Historical higher unemployment rates among Indigenous Peoples

   • Employment rates stagnant from 2006 to 2016

Additional Factors for Indigenous Peoples

6. Higher Levels of Incarceration

   • 26% of incarcerated individuals are Indigenous, despite being only 3% of the population

   • Higher rates among Indigenous women

7. Higher Death Rates Among Children and Youth Due to Unintentional Injuries

   • Indigenous youth 3-4 times more likely to die from unintentional injuries than non-Indigenous youth

8. Higher Rates of Suicide

   • First Nations youth suicide rates 5-7 times higher than non-Indigenous youth

   • Inuit youth rates are 11 times higher (one of the highest globally)

   • Leading cause of death for Indigenous individuals up to age 44

Historical Context: Residential Schools

• Aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture through a network of boarding schools.

Models of Quality of Life

• The Three World Model: Divides countries into three “worlds” based on development.

• The North South Model: Distinction between developed (North) and less developed (South) countries, with exceptions.

• The MEDC/LEDC Model: Classifies countries as Economically More Developed (MEDCs) or Less Economically Developed (LEDCs).

Measuring Quality of Life

• Quality of life can be quantified through various indicators, including:

  • Inflation

  • Unemployment

  • Life expectancy

  • Infant mortality

  • Average maternal age at birth

  • Free elections

  • Access to media

  • Air quality

  • World Happiness Index

Specific Measurement Techniques

• GDP: Total value of produced goods/services in a year.

• GDP per Capita: GDP divided equally among citizens.

• Gini Index Score: Measures wealth disparity on a scale of 0 to 1; higher indicates greater inequality.

• HDI Index: Composed of life expectancy, average schooling years, and GDP per capita—effective for assessing quality of life.

Innovation and Quality of Life

• Innovations that have positively impacted quality of life include:

  • Radio, television, vaccines (polio, smallpox, COVID-19), automobiles, airplanes, plastics, internet, artificial intelligence.

Globalization

• Definition: Increasing interconnectedness globally, particularly pronounced in the last two centuries.

• Cultural Globalization: Global homogenization of lifestyles; loss of local customs and rise of global norms.

• Economic Globalization: Integration of global economic systems; examples include the EU.

• Environmental Globalization: Shared global environmental attitudes; international policies addressing climate change.

• Political Globalization: Similar governance structures across borders; exemplified by the UN and NATO.

• Technological Globalization: Wide distribution of communication technologies and internet access.

Microcredit

• Lending small amounts at low interest to foster new businesses in developing countries.

Isolationism

• The policy of avoiding political/economic ties with other countries; opposite of globalization.

Environmental Worldviews

• Anthropocentric Worldview: Human-centric view; values nature based on usefulness to humanity.

• Expansionist Worldview: Justifies resource exploitation for economic growth; downplays environmental issues.

• Biocentric Worldview: Values the environment without prioritizing humanity; promotes ecosystem protection.

• Ecological Worldview: A biocentric perspective focused on valuing and preserving nature against exploitation.

Sustainability Concepts

• Ecological Sustainability: Using resources wisely for a livable future.

• Economic Sustainability: Long-term economic growth practices.

• Social Sustainability: Addressing present needs without undermining future generations.

Resource Challenges

• Resource Scarcity: Shortage of resources leading to economic decline and social unrest.

• Resource Overexploitation: Extracting resources faster than they can replenish, like the 1992 Cod Moratorium, leading to job loss and cultural disruption.

Unit 3: Socioeconomic Status (SES)

• Definition: Economic and social position of individuals based on income, education, and occupation.

Relationship Between SES, Education, and Health

• High SES linked to:

  • Better healthcare access

  • Healthier food options

  • Active lifestyles

  • Lower stress and long-term health issues

Economic Disparity

• Definition: Uneven distribution of income and opportunity in society.

• Poverty: Relativistic definition tied to adequacy for basic needs, differing across regions.

• Extreme Poverty: Inability to meet essential needs like food and shelter.

• Multidimensional Poverty: Deprivation in key areas like education and health.

• Gini Index: Measures economic disparity; score ranges from 0 (equality) to 100 (complete inequality).

Factors Affecting Economic Disparity

• Wage Disparity: Influenced by supply and demand dynamics and education levels.

• Technology's Impact: Job displacement risks due to automation, particularly for less-skilled workers.

• Gender Issues: Women earn 11% less than men on average, exacerbated by biases and field choices.

• Minority Status: Racial wage gaps persist, affecting income equality.

• Ability-Based Factors: Continuous skill improvement leads to better wages.

Neocolonialism

• Control of developing countries by developed nations using indirect methods, perpetuating exploitation.

Addressing Poverty and Economic Disparity

• Strategies often aim at poverty reduction, with effective measures including:

  • Healthcare investment for the impoverished

  • Education funding for skill development

  • Microfinance initiatives for small business support

  • Increasing minimum wage and affordable housing

  • Mental health and addiction support.

Political Stability

• Definition: Predictability in a country's political environment.

• Political Instability: Volatility from rapid changes in government and policy, often due to conflict or corruption.

Factors Influencing Political Stability

• Economic Health: A strong economy supports political decisions.

• Ideological Changes: Shifts in political ideologies can destabilize governance structures.

• Nationalism: Loyalty to cultural groups can lead to conflict in diverse societies.

• Governance Systems: Differing impacts of democratic versus authoritarian systems can create stability or instability.

• Role of Religion: Varying influences of religion can shape governance.

• Historical Events: Past acts influence present stability, where colonization may leave lasting impacts.

• Crime and Violence: Threats from organized crime shrink national security.

• Natural Disasters: Destabilizing effects of significant disasters, particularly in developing nations.

Definitions of Governance

• Democracy: Government system by population through elected representatives.

• Autocracy: Governed by a single entity with absolute power.

• Nationalism: Patriotism towards one's nation.

Indices Measuring Stability

• Fragile States Index: Evaluates state fragility using diverse data sets.

• Freedom House Index: Rates political rights and civil liberties globally.

Consequences of Political Stability

• Effective governance leads to functional state management and planning capacity.

• In politically unstable regions, citizens struggle to access basic needs.

• Increased violence and crime may arise, leading to greater unrest.

• Economic downturns frequently coincide with political instability; this cyclical relationship can lead to inflation and rising food prices.