PSYC 3125 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Annie Pootoogook, Nuclear Weapon, Health Equity
19 Dec 2017
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Measuring Health Inequality
-Problems around self-reported health is that many people lie about their health, and there is
debate around what is considered healthy. For example, someone with a chronic illness
would think that they’re healthy even though they are dealing with an illness
-Is inequality making us sick? Discuss with respect to the martial islands *EXAM QUESTION*
-if you give men and women the same number of washrooms, we are still not treating the men
and women equally because it does not take into account the way women need to use the
washrooms
-equality- everyone must be treated the same (formal equality, equality of opportunity)
-equity- ensuring fairness through a recognition of difference
-treating everyone the same doesnt give everybody an equal chance
-health inequality concerns those differences in population health that are caused by inequal
economic and social conditions and are systematic and avoidable
-health equity has a moral component to it, where it can be changed, but it is chosen not to be
changed
-Marshall Islands
•between australia and hawaii
•Nuclear bomb testing was intensly radioactive
•more than half of the population is living below the national poverty line
•the terberculosis and other diseases are much higher than they used to be because of their
relationship with the United States
•crowded (dense population) environment has provided the optimal environment for the
spread of TB - houses are really close together and 20 people are living in each house
•the population is too poor to go get the medication, so the health care comes to them with
their medication
•their immune systems are weaker because of malnutrition and the stress of poverty
•due to colonization, the fruits, fish, and other nutrient rich food was taken
•the United States took the Marshall Islands (quaduline), and took one of the islands as a
nuclear base for testing as an army base, only a few marhslese contractors are allowed to
live on this island while the rest take a boat back to the neighbouring island
•the contrast between these two islands is an example of the inequity in the world, because
the individuals living on each island show very different health
•the power goes out often, and when there is no power, there is no water
•when the water shortage occurs, they must go to quaduline, where they are allowed to use
water for laundr and other facilties, if they have a permit and are able to pay
•in the mid 1900s, a miss calculation led to a nuclear explosion carrying more distance than
it was supposed to, and affected 2 islands, and then these people were used as testers to
see how the explosion affected their skin
•the lure of jobs on the u.s. base causes much poverty on the island of Ebye
•many marshalese people have migrated to arkensas, where they have jobs, a healthy
environment, education, and overall better living conditions
•however, the high disease rate of TB is still with them when they moved
•Nurses are still travelling in arkensas to give them medication so that they don’t spread it
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Document Summary
Problems around self-reported health is that many people lie about their health, and there is debate around what is considered healthy. For example, someone with a chronic illness would think that they"re healthy even though they are dealing with an illness. Discuss with respect to the martial islands *exam question* If you give men and women the same number of washrooms, we are still not treating the men and women equally because it does not take into account the way women need to use the washrooms. Equality- everyone must be treated the same (formal equality, equality of opportunity) Equity- ensuring fairness through a recognition of difference. Treating everyone the same doesnt give everybody an equal chance. Health inequality concerns those differences in population health that are caused by inequal economic and social conditions and are systematic and avoidable. Health equity has a moral component to it, where it can be changed, but it is chosen not to be changed.
