This lesson introduces race as a social construct, defines racism, and explains how structural racism shapes access to opportunities and health care. Understanding these concepts helps prevent social differences from being mistaken for biological causes of health outcomes.
Race is a socially created way of categorizing people using perceived physical traits and other social interpretations. It is not a biological division of humanity: there is little genetic variation between racial categories. The categories and meanings assigned to race can change across historical periods, places, and contexts.
All flashcards
Scientific racism
False claims of racial hierarchy used to justify oppression and unequal treatment.
Eugenics
A discredited theory that humans can be improved through selective breeding of populations.
Implicit bias
Unconscious attitudes and associations that can contribute to biased evaluations or treatment.
Internalized racism
The uptake of negative societal messages about one's own racial group, identity, or worth.
Medical desert
An area with limited access to health services.
Quiz questions
How does ethnicity generally differ from race?Answer: Ethnicity is generally self-defined through shared heritage, while race is often externally imposed through perceived traits.
Which description best defines structural racism?Answer: Policies, practices, and institutions that produce unequal opportunities and access based on race.
Why should higher rates of hypertension in a racial group not be attributed automatically to race itself?Answer: Social conditions and experiences related to racism can contribute to health risks.
How can unequal access to employer-sponsored insurance contribute to health disparities?Answer: People without adequate coverage may have greater difficulty obtaining preventive and ongoing care.
What is personally mediated racism?Answer: Prejudice and discriminatory actions directed toward people based on race.
Based on Population Health for Nurses by Jessica Ochs, Sherry L. Roper, Susan M. Schwartz (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.