24 Questions
What is a dominant group in sociological terms?
A group that controls wealth and political power
What is a common experience of minority groups?
Social exclusion
What is a stereotype?
An inflexible image of a racial or cultural group
What is prejudice?
A attitude that prejudges a person based on stereotypes
What is discrimination?
Actual unfair treatment of people based on their group membership
What is institutional discrimination?
The systematic exclusion of people from equal access to and participation in a particular institution due to their race, religion or ethnicity
What is race, in sociological terms?
A person's biological characteristics such as skin color
What is a key point about the concept of race?
It is a socially constructed phenomenon
What was the real intention behind the research that involved 400 poor black men?
To study the development of a disease
What is race, according to the content?
A socially ascribed characteristic
What is a major factor contributing to the health disparities faced by Aborigines in Australia?
Medical deprivation due to lack of economic resources
Why are doctors less likely to work in remote areas in Australia?
Due to lack of economic incentives
What is a consequence of racial bias in drug trials?
Systematic exclusion of racial groups from clinical trials
What is a health disparity faced by Aborigines in Australia?
All of the above
What is a social variable that contributes to health disparities faced by Aborigines in Australia?
All of the above
What is a consequence of not accounting for racial elements in medicine and drug trials?
Attempts to cure individuals of a particular race are not well made
What makes it challenging to classify people into specific races?
Variations within a defined race
What is the biological meaning of race?
An inbreeding population that develops distinctive physical characteristics
Why is it impossible to identify a 'pure' race?
Human groups have exchanged their genes through mating
What is the basis of racism, according to the text?
The belief that an observable trait is a mark of inferiority
What is a consequence of racism, according to the text?
Enduring prejudices, discrimination, and economic exploitation
What is a way that 'racial' groups cope with racism?
By developing their own subcultures and a strong sense of themselves
How has medically legitimated knowledge been used in the context of racism?
To justify unequal treatment and subjugate certain groups
What is the significance of race in societies around the world?
It is not a biologically meaningful concept but is significant in society
Study Notes
Social Inequalities and Health: Race and Ethnicity
- A dominant group is not necessarily numerically larger, but exercises control over wealth, political power, and institutions.
- Minority groups are singled out for differential or unequal treatment, leading to social exclusion and denial of full participation in society.
- Stereotypes are inflexible images of racial or cultural groups, while prejudice is an attitude that prejudges individuals based on group membership.
- Discrimination refers to unfair treatment based on group membership, and institutional discrimination involves the systematic exclusion of people from equal access to institutions.
Race: A Biological and Social Concept
- Race is a socially constructed concept based on biological characteristics such as skin color, but it is problematic due to variations within racial categories and the arbitrary nature of classification.
- The biological meaning of race refers to an inbreeding population with distinctive physical characteristics, but human gene exchange makes it impossible to identify a "pure" race.
- Racism is an ideology that justifies discriminatory treatment based on supposedly inherited traits, and is rooted in beliefs of biological superiority and inferiority.
Racism and Health
- Racism leads to enduring prejudices, discrimination, and economic exploitation, resulting in inequality and injustice.
- Medically legitimated knowledge has been used to subjugate racial minorities and justify their unequal status, as seen in the Tuskegee syphilis study.
- Recent developments acknowledge that race is a socially ascribed characteristic, not a biological one, and that it undermines the risk of other variables such as gender, social class, etc.
Aboriginal Health Disparities
- Aboriginal Australians have a 15-year shorter life expectancy, higher fetal and infant death rates, and more infectious and parasitic diseases.
- Causes of these disparities include medical deprivation, lack of economic resources, and exposure to environmental hazards and occupational injury.
Racial Bias in Drug Trials
- Racial groups are systematically excluded from clinical trials, leading to inadequate representation in medical research.
- Historical examples, such as the Rockefeller foundation's research, demonstrate the racist motivations behind medical studies.
- The lack of racial representation in drug trials undermines the effectiveness of medical treatment for racial minorities.
This quiz covers social inequalities and health, focusing on race, ethnicity, class, gender, and age. Understand the concepts of dominant groups and minority groups in sociology.
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