Discriminatory institutions, norms, and structures within society such as racism or sexism.  These lead to poor health outcomes.

Systems of oppression

Although most legislation is not directly related to health, many laws and policies seem to have a notable effect on the health of those they implicate. 

Grand Valley State University

One's identities (such as race, gender, and sexuality) can impact their health and healthcare experiences in a variety of ways. Cultural identities can influence one's likelihood to utilize health services, and how patients are treated.

Identity's Impact on Health and Health Services

Taylor, C. J. (2019).  Health consequences of laws and public policies that target, or protect, marginalized populations. Sociology Compass, 14, 1-13.


Health consequences of laws and public policies that target, or protect, marginalized populations

With much of research focusing on only the characteristics of either sex or gender, it neglects how gender and sex occur simultaneously and are different aspects of a person's social identity. This in return impacts their health.

Intersectionality of Sex and Gender in Women and Men's Health 

Theory that believes that individuals who are a part of non-dominant groups in society continue to experience and suffer from health disparities, even after adjusting for confounding variables, due to constant stress caused by interactions with dominant groups. LGBTQIA-POC individuals may be at a higher risk to health disparities due to this stress.

Minority Stress Theory

There is a lack of research focusing on how racism impacts Black women's utilization of reproductive healthcare services. Black women have higher rates of unplanned pregnancy, STDs, and abortion than white women. Due to these disparities, Racism needs to be studied as a possible factor exacerbating these differences.

Racism's Impact on Black Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes In Southern U.S. 

They face harsh working conditions, social isolation, higher mortality, lack of health resources, low rates of health insurance, high poverty rates, and immigration-related concerns of deportation and being caught without documents.

Latino Migrant Farmworker Common Concerns

Immigrant and minority families with a mix of bilingual and monolingual members face unique challenges in searching for vital medical resources. To overcome cultural barriers, multilingual households use collaborative strategies to transmit the information as a family unit. 

Multilingual Families

Not all populations have equal access to health resources. Topics in access to health information include:

•Smartphone dependency and mobile-only households

•Language Barriers

•Health Misinformation

•Information Communication Technologies (ICT)

•Online Searching and Brokering Health Information

•Transportation and Geographic Limitations

Accessibility of Health Resources

An underresearched and underrepresented minority, American Indian and Alaskan Native have the highest mortality and morbidity rates out of all populations. SES constraints as well as the unique difficulty of navigating a federally centralized network of healthcare providers contribute to the prevalance of health disparities in Indiginous people. 

Health Inequity and Indigenous People (AI/AN)

After reading the following scenario, analyze the situation to identify at least two distinct identity-related factors that are likely contributing to the individual's reluctance to seek formal medical care. For each factor, explain how it acts as a barrier.

Analyzing Barriers to Healthcare

Read the following scenario. Analyze how the patient's personal characteristics and identity likely influenced the quality of care they received. In your analysis, identify specific moments in the interaction where the healthcare providers' assumptions may have negatively impacted the diagnostic process.

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