Ethics

Community Action Team – Social Inequality

Social inequalities occur when resources in a society are unevenly distributed. Our community is not devoid of these inequalities, and thus the importance of starting campaigns to ensure that these inequalities are no longer part of our community. Social inequality is characterized by unequal opportunities and rewards for people in different social positions and statuses in society. In a society where some citizens are more equal than others, some will be more economically secure than others (WHO, 2018). The difference in the economic stability of the people due to social inequalities can be seen in healthcare and illness. In our community, social factors such as education, employment status, income level, gender, and ethnicity influence a person’s health. There are wide disparities in the health status of different social groups; the lower an individual’s socio-economic position, the poorer their health.

As a result of the social inequalities that exist in this community, the people of different ethnicities, such as African-Americans, Are often at the receiving end of poor health. Compared to their white counterparts, African-Americans are at a higher risk of heart disease, cancer, asthma, pneumonia, and diabetes. They are at a higher risk of getting these diseases because due to the unequal distribution of resources in our communities, most do not have a healthcare cover, and thus they cannot afford regular medical check-ups. They are also exposed to these diseases because the lack of resources has exposed them to an unhealthy lifestyle which leads to them ailing from lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. Other factors that lead to health disparities among ethnic communities include provider stereotyping, lack of access to providers, and cultural barriers.

These factors are enough reason for our community to come together and ensure that these barriers are eradicated. This can be done by ensuring that the community leaders, such as senators, members of Congress, and the other members of the community, such as doctors and teachers, come together and support a campaign that works towards the provision of the resources required for all members of the community to have equal access to healthcare. The teachers can ensure that the resources in the schools are evenly distributed such that all members of the community, including African-Americans, are given an equal chance to access education. This means being patient with the teenagers and guiding them instead of criticizing and stereotyping them due to their race. It also means that the politicians need to ensure that all schools have equal resources to ensure that the African-American children have an equal opportunity to acquire quality education, giving them a chance to have a better life.

Starting a campaign that highlights the causes of social inequalities and educates the community on the social inequalities that exist in our community will make them aware of the inequalities and also motivate them to join the campaign. If community embers understand that the problem starts with the unequal distribution of resources such as education and then it spills over to factors such as healthcare, they will be motivated to join a campaign to ensure that all members of the community are given equal opportunities. According to the CDC, black women experience two to three times more maternal mortality than that of white women. If there were more black doctors or more resources in the black community, such deaths would not occur, and thus the importance of joining the campaign for the equal distribution of resources.

References

World Health Organization. (2018). Health Inequities and their Causes. https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/health-inequities-and-their-causes#:~:text=Health%20inequities%20are%20differences%20in,right%20mix%20of%20government%20policies.