Health is an asset and a resource critical to human development that benefits society as a whole. But realizing health for all members of society is a matter of social justice, which depends on reducing social and economic inequality and increasing democracy.

Health and Social Justice draws on the growing body of recent literature to offer a comprehensive collection of articles written by a panel of expert contributors who represent a broad range of fields–sociology, epidemiology, public health, ecology, politics, organizing, and advocacy. Each article explores a particular aspect of health inequalities and demonstrates how the sources of health inequalities are rooted in injustices associated with racism, social class, and sex discrimination . This important book examines the political implications of various perspectives used to explain health inequities and explores alternative strategies for eliminating them. Health and Social Justice covers a broad spectrum of topics and

• Analyzes the politics of health inequities
• Shows how market values often dominate over collective needs for well-being
• Examines the politics of methodology and its implications for research and public policy
• Critiques the ideological implications of contemporary health promotion as a model for public health
• Reviews approaches that influence the social determinants of health
• Evaluates strategies drawn from the European experience, and others, aimed at eliminating health inequities
• Proposes principles for action and research
• Analyzes the role of the mass media in influencing the conceptualization of public health issues

Health and Social Justice is written for students, faculty, and public health professionals as well as social policymakers, sociologists, and others who are concerned with the increasing inequities in health status.

The author of (2000) introduces 27 new and reprinted papers exploring the relationship between social justice and health. The contributors share the view that policymakers neglect political power imbalances underlying socioeconomic inequities in access to services and health status. Papers include critical and empirical analyses and case studies of social factors and ideologies contributing to the problem, and model policies and practices drawn from North American and European experience.
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Health is an asset and a resource critical to human development that benefits society as a whole. But realizing health for all members of society is a matter of social justice, which depends on reducing social and economic inequality and increasing democracy.

Health and Social Justice draws on the growing body of recent literature to offer a comprehensive collection of articles written by a panel of expert contributors who represent a broad range of fields– sociology, epidemiology, public health, ecology, politics, organizing, and advocacy. Each article explores a particular aspect of health inequalities and demonstrates how the sources of health inequalities are rooted in injustices associated with racism, social class, and sex discrimination . This important book examines the political implications of various perspectives used to explain health inequities and explores alternative strategies for eliminating them. Health and Social Justice covers a broad spectrum of topics and

• Analyzes the politics of health inequities
• Shows how market values often dominate over collective needs for well-being
• Examines the politics of methodology and its implications for research and public policy
• Critiques the ideological implications of contemporary health promotion as a model for public health
• Reviews approaches that influence the social determinants of health
• Evaluates strategies drawn from the European experience, and others, aimed at eliminating health inequities
• Proposes principles for action and research
• Analyzes the role of the mass media in influencing the conceptualization of public health issues

Health and Social Justice is written for students, faculty, and public health professionals as well as social policymakers, sociologists, and others who are concerned with the increasing inequities in health status.

Health and Social Justicedraws on the growing body of recent literature to offer a comprehensive collection of articles written by a panel of expert contributors who represent a broad range of fields?sociology, epidemiology, public health, ecology, politics, organizing, and advocacy. Each article explores a particular aspect of health inequalities and demonstrates how the sources of health inequalities are rooted in injustices associated with racism, sex discrimination, and social class. This important book examines the political implications of various perspectives used to explain health inequities and explores alternative strategies for eliminating them. Health and Social Justice covers a broad spectrum of topics and

• Analyzes the politics of health inequities
• Shows how market values often dominate over collective needs for well-being
• Examines the politics of methodology and its implications for research and public policy
• Critiques the ideological implications of contemporary health promotion as a model for public health
• Reviews approaches that influence the social determinants of health
• Evaluates strategies drawn from the European experience, and others, aimed at eliminating health inequities
• Proposes principles for action and research
• Analyzes the role of the mass media in influencing the conceptualization of public health issues

"Health and Social Justice" draws on the growing body of recent literature to offer a comprehensive collection of articles written by a panel of expert contributors who represent a broad range of fields>

Richard Hofrichter is a writer and social critic. He is the author of Reclaiming the Environmental Debate: The Politics of Health in a Toxic Culture (2000), and the editor of Toxic Struggles: The Theory and Practice of Environmental Justice (1993) and Neighborhood Justice in Capitalist Society: The Expansion of the Informal State (1987).

Sources.

Acknowledgments.

Preface.

The Contributors.

1. The Politics of Health Inequities: Contested Terrain (Richard Hofrichter).

PART ONE: SOCIAL FORCES EXACERBATING HEALTH INEQUITIES.

2. A Society in Decline: The Political, Economic, and Social Determinants of Health Inequalities in the United States (Dennis Raphael).

3. Understanding and Reducing Socioeconomic and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health (James S. House, David R. Williams).

4. Gender, Health, and Equity: The Intersections (Piroska Östlin, Asha George, Gita Sen).

5. Getting a Grip on the Global Economy: Health Outcomes and the Decoding of Development Discourse (John Gershman, Alec Irwin, Aaron Shakow).

6. The Political Context of Social Inequalities and Health (Vincente Navarro, Leiyu Shi).

7. Income Inequality and Mortality: Importance to Health of Individual Income, Psychosocial Environment, or Material Conditions (John W. Lynch, George Davey Smith, George A. Kaplan, James S. House).

8. Zoning, Equity, and Public Health (Juliana A. Maantay).

9. The Changing Structure of Work in the United States: Implications for Health and Welfare (Sarah Kuhn, John Wooding).

PART TWO: THEORY, IDEOLOGY, AND POLITICS: CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES.

10. Public Health as Social Justice (Dan E. Beauchamp).

11. Social Capital and the Third Way in Public Health (Carles Muntaner, John W. Lynch, George Davey Smith).

12. Measuring Health Inequalities: The Politics of the World Health Report 2000 (Paula A. Braveman).

13. Assessing Equity in Health: Conceptual Criteria (Alexandra Bambas, Juan Antonio Casas).

14. Income Inequality, Social Cohesion, and the Health Status of Populations: The Role of Neo-liberalism (David Coburn).

15. Income Inequality and Health: Expanding the Debate (John W. Lynch).

16. Is Capitalism a Disease? The Crisis in U.S. Public Health (Richard Levins).

17. Theorizing Inequalities in Health: The Place of Lay Knowledge (Jennie Popay, Gareth Williams, Carol Thomas, Anthony Gatrell).

18. The Limitations of Population Health as a Model for a New Public Health (Dennis Raphael, Toba Bryant).

19. Theories for Social Epidemiology in the Twenty-First Century: An Ecosocial Perspective (Nancy Krieger).

PART THREE: STRATEGIES: PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL POLICY AND PRACTICE.

20. Toward the Future: Policy and Community Actions to Promote Population Health (Dennis Raphael).

21. Globalization, Trade, and Health: Unpacking the Links and Defining Health Public Policy Options (Ronald Labonte).

22. Socioeconomic Disparities in Health in the United States: An Agenda for Action (Nancy E. Moss).

23. From Science to Policy: Options for Reducing Health Inequalities (Hilary Graham).

24. Addressing Structural Influences on the Health of Urban Populations (Arline T. Geronimus).

25. Swimming Upstream in a Swift Current: Public Health Institutions and Inequality (Rajiv Bhatia).

26. Minnesota’s Call to Action: A Starting Point for Advancing Health Equity Through Social and Economic Change (Gavin Kearney).

27. The Role of Mass Media in Creating Social Capital: A New Direction for Public Health (Lawrence Wallack).

Name Index.

Subject Index.