People all across the country get diagnosed with disease everyday. Disease do not stereotype of pick who they will strike. Social epidemiology is the study of the distribution of disease. (Schaefer) Many people suffer from diseases, however there are a few groups that have higher risks of obtaining diseases than others.
Studies have shown that diseases are more popular among the poor. This is probably true because the poor often do not have the health care that the wealthy do. Since they do not get the proper medical attention, they are more likely to obtain diseases. Once the disease takes over their body, it is hard for them to get rid of it because they may not know exactly what is wrong with them or how to treat is because they do not have the ability to go see a doctor. Because of this, lower-class people have higher rates of mortality and disability that upper-class people. (Schaefer)Lower-class people are often overlooked when it comes to government health care because the upper and middle class citizens do not want to pay taxes that go toward health care.
Another group that has a high disease rate is ethnic minorities. This is probably true because many ethnic minorities are poor because they migrate to the country and take low income jobs to have an income. Because of this the ethnic minorities get hit double because they are an ethnic minority and they are poor. It may be hard for the to get the health care that they need because they do not speak English, they don't have enough money, or they do not know where to seek medical attention.
For these groups of people, the face many hardships. Once they are in the lower-class it is hard to rise above it. Therefore for most of their life they are disease ridden or ill ridden because they cannot see a physician. It is a sad epidemic in the country, and citizens should do what they can to help the poor get out of their rut.
Catholic Social Teaching tells Christians that they need to base their decisions on how they will affect the poor. They need to stand up and look after the ones that need the most help. The poor often get over looked, and nobody seems to worry about their conditions. Catholic Social Teaching is trying to get citizens to view their poorer classes on the same level as everybody else, and show them the respect that they deserve.
Americans need to look out for the poor and the ethnic minorities. It is hard for them to make it in the world, and it is even hard for them to rise above their poverty. If American citizens help the poor more, they may be able to rise above the social epidemiology.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Sick Role
Day after day somebody develops a sickness. Whether it is a common cold or a chronic illness, everybody plays the sick role. The sick role refers to societal expectations about the attitudes and behaviors of a person viewed a being ill. (Schaefer) When people are sick the do not have to go to work or school, they do not have to tend to their normal duties, and they are allowed to stay in all day.
For many people it is hard to play the sick role. They do not want to believe that they are sick, or that they have to stop doing their normal tasks. They often try to push past their sickness and deny that it is happening to them. However, this can be harmful to ones body. When someone pretends like they are not sick, they may worsen the situation. The sickness that is overlooked can develop even more because the person is using all of their strength that they have. Instead they should be resting and recharging their energy.
On the other hand, many people become "babies" when they are sick. It has been reported that men often become helpless when they are sick. When there are signs of the slightest sickness, they go to the doctor or local drug store to get medication to make them feel better. The often play the sick role and become exempt from all their jobs. However, men are not the only ones that play into the sick role. Women too become "babies" when they are sick. The call off work or school and stay in to sleep on the couch.
When one becomes sick, they try to make a recovery as soon as possible. However this is not a reality for some people. People who suffer from chronic illness usually have to deal with their sickness on a daily basis. Sometimes it is hard to function because of their chronic illness, but many get used to the symptoms that come along with the illness.
Sometimes when people get sick they can fall into a depressed state. Because they cannot get over their sickness or maybe it is chronic and they never will, their mood can drop. The often feel a state of helplessness and lethargy, and they may not even want to get better. These people have to struggle through their sickness with depression on top of it. It is often difficult, and they usually must seek medical attention to get over both of their sicknesses.
Illness often come at the wrong time for everyone, but we eventually get through them. To get through them we play the sick role so we can cope with the sickness. It usually is a struggle but soon enough we will feel better.
For many people it is hard to play the sick role. They do not want to believe that they are sick, or that they have to stop doing their normal tasks. They often try to push past their sickness and deny that it is happening to them. However, this can be harmful to ones body. When someone pretends like they are not sick, they may worsen the situation. The sickness that is overlooked can develop even more because the person is using all of their strength that they have. Instead they should be resting and recharging their energy.
On the other hand, many people become "babies" when they are sick. It has been reported that men often become helpless when they are sick. When there are signs of the slightest sickness, they go to the doctor or local drug store to get medication to make them feel better. The often play the sick role and become exempt from all their jobs. However, men are not the only ones that play into the sick role. Women too become "babies" when they are sick. The call off work or school and stay in to sleep on the couch.
When one becomes sick, they try to make a recovery as soon as possible. However this is not a reality for some people. People who suffer from chronic illness usually have to deal with their sickness on a daily basis. Sometimes it is hard to function because of their chronic illness, but many get used to the symptoms that come along with the illness.
Sometimes when people get sick they can fall into a depressed state. Because they cannot get over their sickness or maybe it is chronic and they never will, their mood can drop. The often feel a state of helplessness and lethargy, and they may not even want to get better. These people have to struggle through their sickness with depression on top of it. It is often difficult, and they usually must seek medical attention to get over both of their sicknesses.
Illness often come at the wrong time for everyone, but we eventually get through them. To get through them we play the sick role so we can cope with the sickness. It usually is a struggle but soon enough we will feel better.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
College Subcultures
Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz identified some distinctive subcultures among college students. Her four ideal types of subculture that came out of her analysis were: the collegiate subculture, the academic subculture, the vocational subculture, and the nonconformist subculture. (Schaefer) Many students fall under one of these categories, however it is hard to define a student by using just one subculture.
The first subculture is collegiate. The collegiate is defined as focusing on having fun and socializing. These students define what constitutes a "reasonable" amount of academic work. Members of the collegiate subculture have little commitment to academic pursuits. (Schaefer) It is hard to stay that any one college student is not a part of the collegiate subculture. Just like any environment, there is a social aspect, and everybody wants to make a few friends. And it is hard to say that no college student because sidetracked from their work and instead wants to hang out with their friends. It is just a common part of college.
The second subculture is academic, which identifies with the intellectual concerns of the faculty and values knowledge to its own sake. (Schaefer) These students are really involved with their school work and usually hold a good relationship with their professors. However, many students in college can be labeled as being in the academic subculture because students like to be on good grounds with their professors and value knowledge.
The third subculture is vocational. A vocational subculture is interested primarily in career prospects and views college as a means of obtaining the acadmeic degree essential for advancement.(Schaefer) Just about every student falls under the academic subculture. Students advance on to college because they want to get a higher degree. The main reason for coming to college is to get a degree and advance to bigger and better things.
The final subculture is nonconformist. The nonconformists are hostile to the college environment and seek out ideas that may or may not relate to college studies. Members may find outlets for their thinking through campus publications or issue-oriented groups. (Schaefer) Every once in a while students lean toward the nonconformists subculture because they want to get away from the fast pace life of college. Who doesn't want time to breathe and be by themselves for a little bit?
All in all, I do not think a student can fall under just one of Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz's subculture. It is almost impossible for one to completely be involved in only one. Human's personality are so complex that they have many different personalities and attitudes at different times. Therefore, many students at college are a combination of these four subcultures.
The first subculture is collegiate. The collegiate is defined as focusing on having fun and socializing. These students define what constitutes a "reasonable" amount of academic work. Members of the collegiate subculture have little commitment to academic pursuits. (Schaefer) It is hard to stay that any one college student is not a part of the collegiate subculture. Just like any environment, there is a social aspect, and everybody wants to make a few friends. And it is hard to say that no college student because sidetracked from their work and instead wants to hang out with their friends. It is just a common part of college.
The second subculture is academic, which identifies with the intellectual concerns of the faculty and values knowledge to its own sake. (Schaefer) These students are really involved with their school work and usually hold a good relationship with their professors. However, many students in college can be labeled as being in the academic subculture because students like to be on good grounds with their professors and value knowledge.
The third subculture is vocational. A vocational subculture is interested primarily in career prospects and views college as a means of obtaining the acadmeic degree essential for advancement.(Schaefer) Just about every student falls under the academic subculture. Students advance on to college because they want to get a higher degree. The main reason for coming to college is to get a degree and advance to bigger and better things.
The final subculture is nonconformist. The nonconformists are hostile to the college environment and seek out ideas that may or may not relate to college studies. Members may find outlets for their thinking through campus publications or issue-oriented groups. (Schaefer) Every once in a while students lean toward the nonconformists subculture because they want to get away from the fast pace life of college. Who doesn't want time to breathe and be by themselves for a little bit?
All in all, I do not think a student can fall under just one of Helen Lefkowitz Horowitz's subculture. It is almost impossible for one to completely be involved in only one. Human's personality are so complex that they have many different personalities and attitudes at different times. Therefore, many students at college are a combination of these four subcultures.
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