Stratification, class and health

Abstract

Some of the central questions in sociology are about the nature and significance of social divisions: about why people's social resources and opportunities differ, why some individuals and groups are more powerful than others, and how structures of power are created and reproduced through social institutions such as the family and the state. In particular, why and how have some differences — such as those between men and women, black and white people or older and younger people — given rise to such pervasive forms of structured social inequality? This is the first of five chapters which explore the impact of social divisions on health and health work. The chapter opens up the debate about social divisions by examining the sociological concept of stratification and notes the variety of stratification systems that have existed. Class is then examined in greater detail and its complex relationship with health established, and this is followed by an investigation of debates about poverty and health (Chapter 6). In Chapters 7–9 we will consider the impact on health and health work of other social divisions — along lines of gender, race, age and disability.