Describe how sociologists (among others) divide U.S. society into social classes in order to analyze social stratification, or the hierarchy of the socio-economic ladder.

Describe how sociologists (among others) divide U.S. society into social classes in order to analyze social stratification, or the hierarchy of the socio-economic ladder. Specific emphasis is placed on understanding structural obstacles to upward social mobility such as high cost of living, rates of unemployment and stagnated salaries. Further, we study the impact of social class on standards of living as it is often said that our social class is a determining factor in our life chances and opportunities. Furthermore, there is a direct relationship between health and social class. For example, wealthier people live longer than poorer people. In chapters 11 and 12, the discussion of social stratification continues to include other socio-demographic characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, which also can influence health status. The purpose of this assignment is to become familiar with peer-reviewed research articles and apply the findings of sociological research studies to uncover the social dimensions of health inequality in society. Make sure you review Chapter 9, 11 and 12 as well as the Power Point notes and videos prior to completing this essay. Step 1: Choose a topic within the realm of Health Disparities Health disparities is a sub-field of Sociology, in which researchers study the ways that our socio-demographic characteristics influence our health and longevity. Inequalities in our society based on social class, race or ethnicity, gender and/or sexual orientation can create obstacles among social minorities to maintaining good health and surviving disease. While hereditary factors are an important part of one’s health, these researchers tend to examine social determinants of health that cause risks for illness, such as: Access to healthcare Healthcare insurance coverage Environmental effects on health Behavioral factors such as diet and smoking Occupational hazards, and Prejudice or discrimination within healthcare systems. See these examples from the National Cancer Institute: For example, people with low incomes, low health literacy, long travel distances to screening sites, or who lack health insurance, transportation to a medical facility, or paid medical leave are less likely to have recommended cancer screening tests and to be treated according to guidelines than those who don’t encounter these obstacles. People who do not have reliable access to health care are also more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage cancer that might have been treated more effectively if diagnosed earlier. Some groups are disproportionately affected by cancer due to environmental conditions. People who live in communities that lack clean water or air may be exposed to cancer-causing substances. The built environment can also influence behaviors that raise one’s risk of cancer. For example, people who live in neighborhoods that lack affordable healthy foods or safe areas for exercise are more likely to have poor diets, be physically inactive, and obese, all of which are risk factors for cancer. As you select a topic to focus on, I recommend narrowing the topic from the large umbrella of “health” to a type or health, or condition, or issue and further narrowing your focus onto one form of inequality. Examples: Broad topic Narrowed topic Health disparity based on Health Depression Gender Health Water safety (for drinking) Social Class Health Infant mortality Race Health Access to healthcare Sexual Orientation Note: Genetics should not be the focus of the paper though it can be mentioned as an influential factor. You may want to browse chapter 19 of our textbook, “Health and Medicine”, to get more ideas. Step 2: Learning how to find the right kind of sources in class on April 1st. Step 3: Find three research articles from academic journals that address your chosen topic Start by searching for a research study that addresses your research interest (e.g. health, inequality, discrimination, social mobility etc…). Play with key word searches to maximize the articles available to you. Explore the titles and abstracts of the articles and select three that fit the following criteria: Sociological – having to do with people, a study that collected data from more than one person; having to do with social aspects of people’s behavior Current – published within the last 15 years Research – the author collected data in their own original study that he/she is describing in this article Peer-reviewed academic journal – the article, which is written by the researchers, has undergone a review by other experts in the field. They evaluate the accuracy and assess the validity of the research methodology and procedures. Feel free to send your articles to Dr. C if you are unsure whether they are a good fit for this assignment! Step 4: Write the essay Once you have chosen a topic and found your research articles, you can begin writing the essay. While incorporating our course concepts (see note* below for more details), write a 1-2-page essay that addresses the following objectives: Introduction: Using credible sources (Such as our textbook, CDC, research articles, or .org or .gov website that deals with topic you′ve chosen), describe the problem of health disparities that you have selected. What is the inequality/disadvantage? Who is affected? How many people are effected? Body: For each article, describe the research methodology, including their research questions (the goals of the studies), who/how many people they studied in their samples and their key findings (Note: If the researcher has multiple findings, you may select one to write about.) Conclusion: Now, speak about the findings of these articles collectively and apply them to your selected topic. What are the social causes of this health disparity? How could this research offer insights or solutions for minimizing or eliminating health disparities? Sources: 3 peer-reviewed research articles and any outside sources that you use in your introduction to describe the problem