Word sociology essays
Patterns of inequality:
1. Health (20)
2. Education (20)
3. Employment
4. Poverty
5. Gender (20)
Explanations of inequality:
1. Population (40)
2. Urbanisation (40)
3. Aid (20)
4. Debt (20)
Impact of:
1. Globalisation
2. TNCs (40)
3. World trade (40)
4. NGOs
Theories:
1. Marxist
, 2. Modernisation (40)
3. Dependency (40)
4. Feminism (40)
5. World system theory (40).
Patterns of inequality:
Examine some of the main causes of morbidity and mortality
in the developing world [20]
Lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities is a significant contributor to
morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The absence of
clean, safe water sources leads to the widespread prevalence of waterborne diseases,
with an estimated 80% of illnesses in less developed countries being water-related.
Poor sanitation practices, such as open defecation due to the lack of basic facilities like
toilets or latrines, further exacerbate the problem. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), approximately 2 billion people still lack access to basic sanitation,
with 673 million resorting to open defecation. This inadequate sanitation infrastructure
contributes to the spread of diarrheal diseases, resulting in an estimated 432,000
deaths annually. Moreover, poor sanitation also plays a role in the transmission of
neglected tropical diseases like intestinal worms, schistosomiasis, and trachoma, while
also contributing to malnutrition. Improving hygiene and sanitation practices is crucial for
reducing the burden of disease and improving overall health outcomes in vulnerable
communities.
Lack of adequate nutrition and nourishment, often stemming from poverty, is a major
driver of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Poverty is intricately linked with hunger, as
impoverished individuals struggle to afford sufficient and nutritious food, leading to
malnutrition in its various forms. This includes undernutrition, characterized by wasting,
stunting, and being underweight, as well as deficiencies in essential vitamins and
minerals. Conversely, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is also on the rise
globally, with 1.9 billion adults affected, while 462 million are underweight. Children are
particularly vulnerable, with 149 million under 5 estimated to be stunted and 45 million
wasted, while 38.9 million are overweight or obese. Tragically, around 45% of deaths
among children under 5 are linked to undernutrition, primarily occurring in low- and
middle-income countries. Paradoxically, in these same regions, rates of childhood
,overweight and obesity are escalating, often fueled by the introduction of new food
products that can drastically alter dietary habits and contribute to poor health outcomes,
as observed in cases like obesity in Samoa. Addressing poverty and improving access
to nutritious food are essential for combating malnutrition and its associated health
consequences on a global scale.
One of the main causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly for women and girls, is
deeply rooted in cultural norms and patriarchal structures that perpetuate inequalities
and limit access to essential health services. Cultural barriers often prevent girls from
accessing education, leading to poor health outcomes as they grow older. Lack of
education and information about safe sex contributes to the spread of HIV/AIDS,
especially among women who lack power and control over sexual and reproductive
decisions due to patriarchal values. Practices like female genital mutilation (FGM), early
pregnancies, and multiple pregnancies take a toll on women's physical and mental well-
being. Additionally, societal norms may prevent women from seeking necessary health
services, such as traveling alone to a clinic or insisting on condom use with their
partners. Moreover, harmful gender expectations can lead to tragic outcomes, such as
teenage boys engaging in risky behaviors to conform to peer pressure. Feminist
perspectives highlight how patriarchal systems exacerbate health inequalities globally,
with women experiencing higher rates of poverty, limited access to healthcare, and
restricted opportunities for education and employment. Addressing these structural
inequalities is essential for improving women's health and reducing mortality rates,
particularly in developing countries where maternal mortality rates remain high due to
limited access to prenatal care and skilled birth attendants.e.g sub Saharan countries
have fewer than 2 midwives per 1000 pregnancies. Empowering women through
education, healthcare access, and challenging harmful cultural norms is crucial for
promoting gender equality and improving overall health outcomes. maternal mortality rates
that are considerably higher in LEDCs with approximately 70% of the deaths in sub suharan
Africa in 2020.
•, a critical approach to impact of west on health in developing countries. Navarro
argues health in LDCs only be understood in light of imperialism, colonialism + Neo-
colonialism, producing an 'under-development of health' in developing countries, w/
majority experiencing a worsening experience of health. E.g equipment/ practices have
been 'imported' from developed countries. a 'two- tier' health system has developed,
due to these practices and equipment; little attention had been given to basic health
care and prevention of disease. a 'market' of health (the Neo-liberal) approach has re-
inforced this 2-tier system, with those who can afford to pay ( elites) experiencing diff
levels of health than those who cant. • 'Biomedical' model has emphasised the curative
rather than preventative model Cost of drugs is too high for the majority in LDCs.
Hospitals concentrated in urban areas and serve the wealthy elite. Trained
professionals are leaving LDCs to work in MDCs. Trained professionals (doctors and
nurses) are leaving developing countries to work in developed countries, leaving behind
a depleted health service in their country of origin. TNCs have an important impact due
to the high prices charged for life-saving drugs, particularly where AIDS/HIV is
, concerned. Poverty and the amount spent by developing countries on health is directly
related to the issues of trade and debt with Ireland having one of the most foreign
trained doctors Ireland - 36%
Assess the view that western models of education are not
appropriate for most developing countries. (20)
Over 250 million children are deprived of education, primarily due to factors such as fragile
states, post-primary education gaps, gender disparities, HIV/AIDS, cost barriers, poor quality,
high dropout rates, exclusion, and climate change impacts. Modernization and neoliberal
perspectives view education as vital for Least Economically Developed Countries' (LEDCs)
development, focusing on its economic benefits. Conversely, dependency theorists and
feminists highlight structural inequalities exacerbated by education systems. These divergent
views underscore the multifaceted challenges in education access and the need for
comprehensive solutions.
From a feminist perspective, education plays a pivotal role in development, yet patriarchal
structures often hinder girls' access to schooling in many developing regions. Traditional gender
roles, which assign girls tasks like collecting water, tending to household chores, and caring for
family plots, limit their opportunities for education. Instances of gender apartheid, exemplified by
policies like the Taliban's ban on girls' education in Afghanistan, further exacerbate disparities.
Despite evidence showing that literate women in the developing world have longer life
expectancies and contribute significantly to their communities, millions of girls globally remain
excluded from formal education, particularly in African and South/West Asian countries. This
gender disparity persists, with approximately 80% of girls in these regions lacking access to
education compared to 16% of boys. Although progress has been made towards gender
equality in education provision, as seen in roughly 60% of countries, feminist theorists stress the
need to dismantle patriarchal barriers and ensure equal access to education for all genders to
foster sustainable development and societal progress.Patr iar chal cultur al values –
means many girls the world over suffer most from lack of education.Pakistan and India
are two countries which have significant gender inequalities in education provision – In
India (one of the BRIC nations) the percentage of girls attending school lags 10% points
behind that of boys, a situation which is even worse in Pakistan, the country is which
Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban for attending school.
Dependency theory would argue that of western models of education are fundamentally
ethnocentric and are the consequence of colonial experiences. This means that systems of
education which had been used in western countries were imposed on other societies, bringing
new and damaging expectations about the nature of learning. These systems privilege higher
levels of learning over things like universal literacy, and therefore tend to only benefit the elites
within developing countries. This reinforces the inequalities of developing countries and keeps
poorer people from accessing alternative employment that demands higher level qualifications.
Paulo Freire points out that a lack of basic literacy keeps the working classes from being able to
engage in political activity, and again, reinforces social class inequalities.education was used
