HLSC120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Eurocentrism, Stolen Generations, World Health Organization
● Don’t like to use term Indigenous - collective, refers to flora and fauna of that area
Globalisation:
● ‘Political, economic and cultural developments’.
○ Such as the spread of multinational companies, information
technology, and the role of international agencies
○ That result in people’s lives being increasingly influenced by global
rather than national or local factors
Health Consequences of Globalisation
Public health and globalisation are interconnections which cannot be ignored
● Globalisation as a social, cultural and economic phenomenon has had positive and
negative impacts...nations that more effectively globalise grow faster and thus have a
greater capacity to reduce poverty and improve the health of a population
● Valid and emerging argument that globalisation will be the end of cultural diversity
and the triumph of a uni-polar culture serving the needs of transnational corporations
○ Thus become familiar with global brands such as McDonalds, Nike, Microsoft,
Apple and Disney
Positives
● Global human rights
● World health organisation (WHO) health imperatives
● Better standards of living
● Better health outcomes
● Information sharing and technology
Negatives
● Capitalism is entrenched and more widespread
● Increased concentration of wealth
● Indigenous people’s have faced the increasing negative impacts of economic
globalisation on their natural environment and their well being
○ Growing global economy has increased the demand for natural resources,
much of which is found on indigenous peoples lands
Equity and Equality
● The terms equity and equality are sometimes used interchangeably. These
concepts are related but not the same
● Equality aims to ensure that everyone gets the same things in order to enjoy full,
healthy lives. This may seem fair but it only goes so far in promoting justice because
it ignores other cultural factors - such as language, place of residence, sexual
orientation and gender
● Health inequality refers to the different health status between various social
groups
● Equity is trying to understand and give people what they need to enjoy full, healthy
lives
● Health inequity refers to whether inequality between various social groups is unfair
and avoidable
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find more resources at oneclass.com
Global Inequality and Health
● Unequal distribution of disease between countries
● Predictors of unequal health outcomes;
○ Poverty and living conditions
○ Gap in income level within a country
○ Lack of provision of health insurance/health protection policies
● WHO Report on Health in the 21st century identified the following threats to health;
○ Globalisation of unhealthy lifestyles
○ Rapid unplanned urbanisation
○ Ageing of populations
○ The rise in chronic conditions
○ Climate change
● One measure of inequality is life expectancy
○ Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians comparison
The History and Effects of Colonisation
● Where Indigenous peoples have been colonised by dominant Eurocentric culture -
elements of cultural livelihood have been destroyed and well-being has been
negatively affected
● Indigenous peoples living in colonised lands suffer health disparities not experienced
by non-Indigenous peoples living in the same place
● This disparity is at odds with the recommendation of the United Nations that asserts
minimum standards for the “survival, dignity, security and well-being of Indigenous
peoples worldwide.”
Effects of Stolen Generation and Trans-Generational Trauma
● Impact on parenting and family functioning; physical and mental illness;
disconnection and alienation from extended family, country, culture and society
● Multiple bereavements and other losses, traumatisation where children witness the
ongoing effect of the original trauma which a parent or other family member has
experienced
● Past traumas still impact on children in the form of ill health, family dysfunction,
community violence, psychological morbidity and early mortality
● Loneliness, loss of identity, mistrust, loss of language, loss of land
● Low self esteem and feelings of worthlessness
● Difficulties in finding spiritual beliefs. Missions imposed Eurocentric religions
● Anguish in searching for their identity
● Loss of cultural affiliation. Stolen Generations cannot take a role in the cultural and
spiritual life of their Aboriginal communities
● Deep distrust of government, police and officials
● Short family tree: Many Aboriginal people in rural and urban areas can’t go further
than two generations into their Aboriginal family tree
● Depression and other mental illnesses
What is culture?
● Culture incorporates the world views of peoples, ways of being, knowing and doing.
Culture is the foundation of our individual and collective identity
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Don"t like to use term indigenous - collective, refers to flora and fauna of that area. Such as the spread of multinational companies, information technology, and the role of international agencies. That result in people"s lives being increasingly influenced by global rather than national or local factors. Public health and globalisation are interconnections which cannot be ignored. Globalisation as a social, cultural and economic phenomenon has had positive and negative impactsnations that more effectively globalise grow faster and thus have a greater capacity to reduce poverty and improve the health of a population. Valid and emerging argument that globalisation will be the end of cultural diversity and the triumph of a uni-polar culture serving the needs of transnational corporations. Thus become familiar with global brands such as mcdonalds, nike, microsoft, Indigenous people"s have faced the increasing negative impacts of economic globalisation on their natural environment and their well being.
