Explaining Social Class Inequalities in Health

Sociology of Health
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Contents
Topic: “Explain the main ways that social class leads to inequalities in health”............................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
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Topic: “Explain the main ways that social class leads to inequalities in health”
INTRODUCTION
Health inequalities are defined as the differences in status of health or health resources
distribution between distinct population groups, arising through social conditions or
circumstances in which individuals are born, live, grow, age and work (Adler, Glymour, and
Fielding, 2016). Social class is referred as the class, group of individuals in society who possess
similar socio-economic status. This is an essay report based on the topic "main ways which leads
social class to inequalities in health. This report covers an understanding about role of state and
professionals in management of health and the theories given by Karl Marx and Max Weber on
social inequality. The concept of sick role is also introduced in the report briefly.
MAIN BODY
Social class is defined as the grouping of people in stratified hierarchy on the basis of
education, occupation, income, wealth and social network. The social class of a person has
significant influence on physical health, life expectancy and the ability to receive adequate
nutrition and medical care. In the health outcome of an individual, socioeconomic status is the
main social determinants (Martin, and et. al., 2015). These are the social and economic
conditions which impact on group and individual differences in status of health. Inequality in
health is defined as the unequal distribution of access to health services and environmental health
hazards between demographic groups involving social classes. Income, wealth, education,
housing, work environment, unemployment etc. are the different health determinants that
influence health of social class. In United Kingdom, the socio-economic health inequalities have
a long history. It is the main concern in the nation for over 150 years and the outcomes of health
are generally worsened with great socio economic disadvantage.
In United Kingdom, social class inequalities persist at every age. Family life including
household composition and childbearing is strongly influenced through social class. Apart from
this, education is also the main component (Ettorre, 2016). High social classes are more possibly
to receive higher education and they are more likely to get prestigious jobs and high salaries.
However, in context of lower social class people, they are not getting proper access to education
and their parents are not able to get their child admitted to private school which brings an
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