This week we will focus on health disparities and how systems of oppression create and maintain inequitable health outcomes for populations traditionally targeted for oppression and marginalization.
Resources
Social determinants of health include an individual’s place in society, gender, ethnoracial background, immigration history, disability, access to income and other resources, employment and housing. In a context of inequality related to structural discrimination, social marginalization, and colonialism, some groups experience exclusion from full and meaningful participation in public life and access to the resources needed to maintain health.
The Young Lords, also known as the Young Lords Organization (YLO) or Young Lords Party (YLP), was a Chicago-based street gang that became a civil and human rights organization. The Young Lords' mission supported self determination for Puerto Rico, Latino nations, all oppressed nations, neighborhood empowerment and activism around issues of public health in East Harlem.
Listen to this NPR segment about Black women who are seeking out Black obstetricians to try to avoid racism in health care.
This article from BetterUp explores healthcare disparities members of the LGBTQIA+ community face.
Reflection
Do you feel like you have access to equitable health resources? Why or why not?
Who do you think should be in conversations about health equity?