Sociology 1000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 21: Social Inequality
Document Summary
Health is a social issue because personal well being depends on a society"s level of technology and its distribution of resources. A society"s culture shapes definitions of health. Poor nations suffer from inadequate sanitation, hunger, and other problems linked to poverty. Life expectancy is 20% lower in low-income nations than. In high income countries, the 19th century industrialization improved health dramatically in western europe and north america. A century ago, infectious diseases were leading killers, now people in canada die of older age illnesses like cancer, stroke and heart disease. Social epidemology: the study of how health and disease are distributed throughout a society"s population. Eating disorder: a disorder that involves an intense form of dieting or other unhealthy method of weight control driven by the desire to be thin. Euthanasia: assisting in the death of a person suffering from an incurable disease, also known as mercy killing.
