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Chapter 14: Health and Illnesses
Chapter 14 focuses on the sociology of medicine, health, and illness around the world. Health and illness are considered as factors of human existence. This is because physical bodies are often subjected to diseases, injury, aging, and death. Our bodies are prone to various diseases, such as chronic diseases and acute diseases. Different ways often lead our bodies to be subjected to diseases. These ways vary from ignorance of environmental hygiene, socioeconomic status to social support. Conversely, chronic diseases are referred to as ailments that develop over a long period without being detected and might show signs and symptoms at their late stages. Acute diseases are described as diseases that have a sudden onset and are either fatal or curable. Apart from being part of physical state, health and illness are often shifted by some cultural beliefs, which discerns what is ideal and desirable. However, medical social institutions have been established by the society, which helps in addressing the conditions of our bodies. These medicine institutions assist in providing curative medicines, palliative care, and preventive medicines. According to sociologists, large social forces have helped incorporated some measures that have helped in shaping medical institutions. In this case, medical institutions have played a great deal in improving the lives of people within society.
Moreover, sociological perspectives are presented in various ways within the chapter. In structural-functionalism, sociologists are directed to consider diseases as a threat to social order. This is because sick people cannot fulfill their roles, which further makes them contribute less towards society. Besides, people that became addicted to drugs and alcohol might respond to strains within their lives and in the social system. However, such individuals might adopt healthy or upright behaviors through the retaliation of alcohol and drugs.
Nonetheless, conflict theory is another sociological perspective in the chapter. In this case, sociologists are directed to consider healthcare and health systems as valuable resources that are often unequally shared within the society. In conflict theory, conflict may occur and arise among different groups, which are seeking access and control over some health resources. However, people in power can assist in reducing conflict in the community by creating laws and defining policies, with regards to the provision of health care and medicines in society.
Nevertheless, symbolic interactionism is also a sociological perspective in the chapter. The socialists in this scenario are deemed to be reliant on cultural, historical, and situational contexts to demonstrate the meaning of health and illnesses (Chapter 14: Health And Illness 427). Stigma might be associated with various cultural or historical states of diseases among those who suffer from them. Also, individuals who use drugs learn how to use drugs through some social interactions by peers. However, such people may further attach various meanings and values, which are related to behaviors and substances. Symbolic interactionism is used in giving out serious thoughts concerning the actions of people and further seeks to determine the kind of meanings that are assigned to their actions.
Eventually, health in cultural context has struck as a different aspect. This is because various perspectives and beliefs are applied depending on diverse cultures across the world. For instance, in a developing country such as Senegal, gaining weight is considered a normal or healthy issue. In contrast, to a developed country such as the United States, where heavyweight is associated with diseases; thus, people seek medical treatment to reduce weight. This means that our definition of health depends on cultural context but not the bottom line of a biological perspective.
Work Cited
Chapter 14: Health And Illness. 2020, pp. 413-433, Accessed 25 Apr 2020.