In Sickness and In Wealth
In Sickness and In Wealth
Filmaker: Larry Adelman
This film argues that wealth equals health. Throughout the film they show research studies that prove people with higher income and less stress have better health and live longer lives. A quote that stood out to me in the beginning of the film was:
"Social conditions are more powerful than genes."
It took watching the rest of the film to truly understand the meaning behind this statement. It is clear that higher income families have access to better food, opportunities for education, and financial security. After the film showed brief interviews with the members of different parts of the community, one thing stood out to me: stress. The CEO of the hospital lives in a nice house where he has access to good food and has the time to prepare healthy meals, exercise, and spend time with his family. Although his job is stressful, the power he has gives him the ability to manage his stress. The man who also works at the hospital working in maintenance also has a stressful job, but he has no power to control anything in his job. He is told where to go and what to do at all moments of his day. Then he leaves his stressful job and has to worry about living in a dangerous neighborhood and providing food for his family. The stress level never lowers. He is more likely to experience high blood pressure and other health issues.
"Wealth equals health"
In countries where wealth is more equally distributed, the people are healthier. Other countries mandate vacation time for their employees, in this film taking a vacation was not an option for some families. In other countries, college is free. In America, tuition is rising and in order to better yourself through education, you have to have the means to attend these schools or acquire massive amounts of debt. The middle class woman in the hospital was working a full time job, while attending school and accumulating debt. Although she was living comfortably, her stress levels are still high, which in turn effects your health and quality of life.
"Health is a basic human right"
Peoples lives should not be cut short when the means to improve life are there. An equal distribution of wealth, better housing, better education, and public healthcare will improve the economic status and therefore improve peoples health. Empowering communities to fight for these rights is a first step. Helping those in power to realize their own self interest in the matter, you're at risk too.
Connection to Class: At the end of the video they talked about how it is a choice to intervene now and help stop the problem or do damage control later. This is just like the salmon in the pond metaphor. We can help the salmon and ignore the sewage problem, but the problem will keep coming back if the cause of the issue is not resolved.
This clip from another episode focuses on the health changes of immigrants in America. Blood pressure rises, rates of heart disease and diabetes rise, more likely to become obese. The longer they are here they struggle with discrimination, low paying jobs, poor schools and housing. This kind of environment builds up the message that you're not valuable and you have very little prospect for a good future. This devaluation becomes internalized.
Your connection to the quote, "Social conditions are more powerful than genes" seems very similar to mine. I did not understand how this was possible at first because genetics is always discussed whenever the media discusses health issues. It is almost as if there is a push to ignore the idea that there are ways to improve outcomes for yourself and others through common sense solutions, and by using wealth efficiently. The question is, when will there be intervention into these problems? I continue to go back to the "think locally" idea, and I know that Sheila posted some local initiatives, but the idea of getting some actual action on this nationwide is overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteHello Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. Health is definitely a human right and no one should take this right away from people. Everyone should have access to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, which includes access to all medical services, sanitation, adequate food, decent housing, healthy working conditions, and a clean environment. Dr. Adewale Troutman (from the in sickness and in Wealth video) believes people's health can be improved. How do we do it? By working together with community agencies to educate/train and by empowering citizens to work hard to make the necessary changes needed to improve their social-economic status, which will also result in improvement of their health status.
I watched the video link about immigrants in America and I was struck by the line, "As you become more American the relationship between health and wealth becomes tighter." I would say that those in power determine who is "American" and this adds to the stress.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post and thread here. How does a human right (e.g. health, but also other things like water) get commodified such that only those with means have access to it? And thinking pedagogically, how are schools complicit in naturalizing or normalizing such conditions?
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