Sociology of Health 2: Social Origins of Health - Reading Summaries

This essay, focusing on the sociology of health, analyzes the influence of social factors on health outcomes. It examines the concepts of embodiment and habitus, class and wellness, and poverty within specific social situations. The essay summarizes key articles, including McGann's work on the health effects of job insecurity, Safe Work Australia's statistics on workplace health, and Wacquant's comments on class and wellness. The author also references a British documentary depicting poverty in Scotland and its impact on residents' health. The analysis highlights the interconnectedness of social issues, such as job insecurity, and their significant impact on individual and societal health, drawing on statistical data and real-world examples to support the arguments.

Sociology of Health 1
SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH
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Sociology of Health 2
Social origins of health: Reading Summaries
Health in society is influenced by classes. According to Bourdieu (1984), there is the
prevalence of social power that is entangled by the style and aesthetics of the upper class. It is
portrayed by the peoples’ mode of dressing, clothing, food they take, the cars they drive and
also the holidays and music they can afford or they are entitled to. For instance, the low class
have issues with the employment and job seeking. The paper will seek to present and discuss
the analysis of the articles pertaining embodiment and habitus, class and wellness as well as
poverty in specific social situations.
McGann’s (2012) article, is about the health effects of job insecurity. He shows how
job insecurity is severe just like unemployment. To him, it has an impact to both the physical
and mental health of an individual. In support of his main argument, he stresses on the need
for reinforcing effective microeconomic policies that can be used in job insecurity cases. In
support of the main claim, he also argues that, the case of employee’s health is not just a
matter of their employers but also the public policies. He gives an explanation of the impacts
of health and says that, the impact to the employee’s job can result to more than physical and
mental health. The expectations are killed. There are higher risks if the job is not secure and
also, there is poor performance.
McGann (2012, p.6) gives a statistical proof of his claims and affirms that the
unemployment rate in from 200-2013 in OECD countries had risen from 6% to 7.9% which is
a deviation by 1.7%. Though the figure may not look big, such an increase in unemployment
is impactions because the states should create employment but not reduce the number of
employment positions.

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However, job risk has an impact to the individual’s social class. The low and medium
income people are at a higher risk for deteriorating in health due to unemployment and job
insecurity. However, those from a higher social class are more secure because many of them
have a greater probability to have employment in a different firm.
The article by Safe Work Australia (2014), presents the statistics of key work health
in Australia. The article provides safety statistics across gender and social class, workers
compensation, muscular skeletal claims and also other injuries related with work health like
Mesothelioma. He shows the endeavours of the Australian government to reduce the injury
rates. He affirms success since from the year 2009 to 2012 where a 42% decrease was
recorded Safe (Work Australia, 2014, p.6).
I also tend to concur with the notions presented in the articles pertaining job insecurity
and health in the society. The health of the society is determined by the social issue in the
society. Job insecurity is among the social issues that can cause the society to have a poor
health. (Wacquant, 2009, p.21) comments on class and wellness. He addresses the case of a
drunkard who may be exposed to poor health due to alcoholism The British documentary
(2011) depicts the issue of poverty in Scotland and it can affect resident’s health on the
condition of living in the varied class residential.

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References
Key work Health and Safety Statistics, Australia 2012
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1702/key_work_health_and_safety_sta
tistics_australia_2012.pdf
McGann et. al. (2012: 101): Casualization and insecurities in workplace have health effects,
as does unemployment.
Newton (2011: 86-7): caravan parks are places were people who belong to the new and
growing “underclass” live, the “human scrap heap” according to one park manager (90).
Private schools in race to build facilities http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/private-schools-in-race-
to-impress-with-best-facilities-