In this section of assignment I will be creating another blog explaining the sociological approaches to health and ill health. This will include different views from Marxist, functionalist and feminist approach.
Marxist approach to health and ill health:
Marxist believe that the definition of health and ill-health is determined by the bourgeoisie. They also believe that doctors only serve the interest of the ruling/upper class (British medical association). Upper classes have more money and power are able to enjoy a higher standard of health. They also claim that the government in capitalist society allows companies to contribute to ill-health in society. An example of this is tobacco and the alcohol industry. Tobacco companies make huge cancer and other health conditions.
Functionalist approach to health and ill-health:
Functionalists see ‘ill health’ as a bad thing which is not made for society, therefore if a part or someone is ill in a society then it affects the whole society. Those who are ill are ‘deviant’ from the norms of society. Deviant – Many people who were born with a disability were regarded to as ‘deviant’ and were literally taken out of the society. Functionalists believe that everyone was born as ‘normal’ so if someone was ill or born with an illness were considered as ‘abnormal’ and are going against the norms of society.
Those who are ill have a specific role in society called a sick role, the sick role is a term used in medical sociology regarding sickness and the rights and obligations of the affected. It is a concept created by American sociologist Talcott Parsons in 1951. A person declared sick was stopped from going to school, college, and work, social and family events. Interactionists approach to health and ill-health:
They believe that some people with serious illness do not consider themselves as ill while others do. Professional