Oppression: A Social Determinant of Health

by Elizabeth Anne McGibbon (Editor)

Oppression and health are intricately connected. A recent emphasis on the social determinants of health has focused attention on the “causes of the causes” of ill health, including systemic forces such as capitalism, globalization, imperialism, medicalization, neo-colonialism and neoliberalism. If we are to change the oppressive practices that cause ill health our analysis must consistently and explicitly integrate these systemic forces and thus reframe growing health inequities within the scope of moral responsibility and social justice. The internationally recognized authors of this book do just this. An important addition to the relatively new field of critical health studies, Oppression is an integration of critical social scientific perspectives and health systems/health sciences knowledge. The goal of the book is to support, enhance and provoke action to interrogate the progress of oppression. It can be done, and it is being done.

Genres: Health

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Julia Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up to read through work. It was recommended to me under the premise that anyone who works in healthcare should read. Discusses the ways in which structural, social, ecological determinants of health intersect and cause oppression for equity deserving groups within our health and government systems. Quite a lot of content and at times repetitive and dry, but would definitely recommend for anyone in healthcare. Book was written in 2021 and there has been some changes to current Canadian public policies since then