Conflict Theory Of Health Inequality

Health inequality is part of American life, intertwined and entangled with other social problems; gaps in income, education, age, race and gender. Gaps that social analysts cannot say for sure which factors are cause and which are effect. The unclear outcome is a huge chicken-and-egg puzzle, its solution reaching beyond health care. Because of that, everyday realities often control whether people live in health or in illness, to a ripe old age or early death. Clearly, poverty affects some groups more than others. The relationships between social class and general well being are persistent and troublesome; even in the twenty first century, life looks different for those belonging to upper and middle social classes compared to the lower social classes (Parsons 1942: 7).

A person's socioeconomic status has an

As we know, conflict theory is all about the inequality between diverse groups as presented by Karl Marx with the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat. In the case of medicine this could have quite a significant impact on who has access to medical care, meaning both access to hospitals and the ability to be covered by insurance. Wealthier citizens can pay for the best medical and health care, but people who are scrapping by cannot afford hospital bills without insurance. Sometimes people can afford health insurance when it isn’t provided by their employer or they can’t afford the deductibles, so they skip the hospital or doctors visit and try to heal on their own. Meaning they are sick for longer or perhaps they never get better and sometimes even get worst. The unequal access to valuable resources in society, like education, housing, or well paying jobs, leads to health disparities and limited access to medical care. Even the power struggle between different interest groups can affect the health of an