Articles tagged with Social Inequality
A new study by University of Houston sociologist Kathryn Freeman Anderson reveals significant disparities in the initial COVID-19 vaccine rollout in five urban Texas counties. The research found that Black and Latino neighborhoods were less likely to receive vaccines due to existing healthcare resource shortages.
New research links structural sexism and anti-LGB stigma with increased risk of preterm birth and decreased birth weight, regardless of the mother's sexual orientation. The study found that these systemic issues can limit access to reproductive health care and socioeconomic opportunities, contributing to adverse birth outcomes.
A new study by the University of Southampton finds that skilled overseas workers with families face a higher risk of poverty than UK workers and their net incomes are lower under the UK's points-based immigration system. The researchers warn that this could make the UK less attractive for overseas workers who could fill skills gaps.
The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded pre-existing inequalities among refugee adolescents in Jordan, leading to increased stress and high rates of depression. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to support these vulnerable populations.
The CHAMPS program, a multi-year quality improvement initiative in Mississippi, increased breastfeeding rates by 10 percentage points overall, with significant gains among Black mother-baby dyads. Rooming-in practices also improved, leading to reduced infant mortality and morbidity.
Historic redlining in Baltimore continues to impact present-day health outcomes, with lower average life expectancies observed across affected communities. The study highlights the persistence of systemic racism and unequal access to healthcare in these areas.
A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that racial and ethnic minorities, as well as low-income groups in the US are being exposed to higher levels of dangerous fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) than other groups.
A new study led by Boston Medical Center researchers shows that Black individuals who were incarcerated have a statistically significant 65% increase in mortality rates compared to non-Hispanic non-Black individuals. This finding highlights the long-term impacts of incarceration on health, particularly among marginalized communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted work-life boundaries, particularly for mothers, who took on more childcare responsibilities. Research in Finland found that mothers' flexibility was key to managing multiple roles, while the absence of support services highlighted gendered practices.
An analysis of thousands of children's books published between 1960 and 2020 found that while female protagonists are increasingly represented, males remain overrepresented. The study also identified factors associated with representation, including author gender and book genre.
A new UC Davis study tracks firearm violence, assault, and homicide in 13 major US cities by zip code, revealing stark disparities. Firearm violence increased 29.3%, homicides by 27.7%, while robberies decreased 23.3% and rapes by 31.4% during the first five months of the pandemic.
A Rutgers-led study found that racial biases among health care providers may limit the number of Black women taking a daily pill to prevent HIV infection. The study also highlights how providers' racist beliefs can disadvantage Black women's access to PrEP, a medication up to 92% effective when taken correctly.
Pharmacy standing orders led to a significant increase in naloxone dispensing in Massachusetts, but gaps in access persist in rural communities and Hispanic neighborhoods. Communities with higher rates of opioid overdose deaths and buprenorphine treatment also dispensed more naloxone.
A study of four US states finds that Black people are more likely to be nonfatally shot and injured by police, with disparities greater than seen for fatal shootings. The research highlights the need for comprehensive data on police shootings to draw reliable conclusions about racial disparities.
A recent study published in Nature Machine Intelligence challenges the long-held assumption that accuracy and fairness are mutually exclusive in machine learning. Researchers found that optimizing models for accuracy does not necessarily compromise fairness, particularly when adjustments are made to data, labels, and scoring systems.
A new study explored how prosecutors think about race in criminal justice, finding that a color-blind approach can entrench racial disparities. The study suggests that changing prosecutor views on race and core beliefs is necessary to achieve justice.
The University of Huddersfield is leading a four-year project to analyze early intervention programs for young people aged 14-16 in England. The study aims to provide a systematic understanding of existing practice and its impact on young people, with potential contributions to improved support and education policy.
A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that Airbnb units cause a mild decrease in long-term rental supply, including affordable housing, while expanding the rental market. The study suggests a new tax to alleviate resulting inequities and maintain social equality.
The study will assess the impact of environmental and economic interventions on health and well-being in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Researchers will enroll 720 adults, half receiving the proposed interventions, and evaluate their overall health and wellbeing, as well as violent crime rates.
A study by the San Francisco Estuary Institute, the Nature Conservancy, and the University of Illinois suggests that access to nature may contribute to lower COVID-19 rates, regardless of racial or socioeconomic identity. The research team found a strong correlation between green spaces and decreased COVID-19 incidence rates.
A new study of 51,000 UK adults found that COVID-19 lockdowns had differential impacts on people's income, time use, and subjective well-being based on their gender, ethnicity, and educational level. The study suggests that these inequalities may persist even after lockdown restrictions eased.
Research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing indicates that disparities in readmissions between Black and White stroke patients may be linked to the level of nurse staffing in hospitals. Hospitals with better nurse staffing have been shown to reduce racial disparities in stroke readmissions.
A new study by UCL researchers found that social inequality can incite collective violence, including vandalism, even with weak social identification. The findings suggest that reducing economic inequality could play a role in maintaining public safety.
Danish adults have made significant strides in preserving their natural teeth and visiting the dentist more frequently. However, social disparities in dental health persist, with those from lower-income backgrounds receiving less preventive care.
A new study from the University of South Australia reveals that Australian firms with large gender pay gaps are not only perpetuating inequality but also harming their overall performance. The research found that women executives in top management teams can lower a firm's annual return on assets by 2.2%.
A new study found that the public generally opposes repressive policing of protesters, but certain tactics by protesters increase fear and support for police repression. The goals of protests also impact support for police repression, with racially resentful individuals more supportive of repression.
Researchers found that socioeconomic privilege and political ideology play a significant role in racial disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates. Counties with higher median incomes displayed lower disparities, while county-level educational disparities had a greater impact on unequal vaccination rates.
A recent study by the American Cancer Society found a strong association between economic mobility and racial disparities in mortality in the US. The study suggests that structural racism has persisted with similar magnitude across generations, leading to increased death rates among Black individuals compared to their White counterparts.
A Kaiser Permanente study of over 31,000 heart attack patients in Southern California revealed significant racial disparities in long-term survival. Black patients from lower-resourced neighborhoods were more likely to die within 5 years after a heart attack compared to white patients, regardless of healthcare access.
A study by the University of South Australia suggests that public resistance to inheritance and estate taxes has declined in Australia. Researchers found that two-thirds of young adults and senior Australians are in favor of taxing estates worth more than $3m, which could help address social inequalities and increase government revenue.
Researchers analyzed fine-scale energy use data to reveal significant racial and income disparities in urban energy use. Block groups with higher poverty rates exhibit significantly higher annual energy consumption, particularly for temperature-sensitive applications.
A study of 45 million mobile users in the US found that poorer communities spent less time indoors during lockdowns, with lower earners often unable to afford stay-at-home orders or working from home. This disparity worsens social inequality and puts vulnerable groups at greater risk from COVID-19.
A recent study analyzing daily temperatures and mortality in Turin, Italy, found that women with low educational levels are most at risk of heat-related mortality. The research also reveals that individuals living alone, regardless of gender, are more susceptible to heat stress than those who share a home.
The newly discovered Aguada Fénix site in Mexico's Tabasco state is the largest and oldest known Mayan monument, constructed between 1,000 to 800 B.C. The site suggests that the Maya civilization developed more rapidly than previously thought and had less social inequality than later periods.
A recent study found that positive effects of intergroup contact tend to be weaker among members of historically advantaged groups, such as white people and heterosexuals. However, when members of these groups engage in contact with disadvantaged groups, they are more likely to support social change promoting equality.
Archaeological analysis of Bronze Age cemeteries in southern Germany reveals that nuclear families lived with foreign women and individuals from lower social classes. The study, published in Science, suggests a complex social structure where wealth was correlated with biological kinship or foreign origin.
Research reveals high degrees of wealth-based inequality led to unstable ancient societies, contrasting with modern expectations.
Wealthier individuals with a belief in social inequality are more likely to donate to charity, while less wealthy individuals who endorse greater equality make more donations. Charitable organizations can enhance their marketing efforts by understanding the relationship between power distance belief and charitable giving.
A study published in BMJ Open found that social inequalities in salt intake have hardly changed in Britain over the last decade, despite a national average salt reduction. The research suggests that poorer households still consume more salt than higher socio-economic groups, highlighting the need to address these disparities to achieve...
A new study by Andrés Villarreal reveals profound social inequality by skin color in Mexico, with individuals having darker skin tones facing lower education levels, lower status jobs, poverty, and limited access to affluence. The research suggests that discrimination in the labor market may contribute to these disparities.
A review of population strategies for preventing cardiovascular disease concludes that screening and treating high-risk individuals may be ineffective in reducing health disparities. Instead, policy interventions to limit risk-factor exposure across populations appear cheaper and more effective.
Research at Harvard University found that 5- to 7-year-olds prefer lucky individuals and groups over the less fortunate. The study suggests this phenomenon may clarify human attitudes toward social groups and help explain the persistence of social inequality.
Redistributive policies by social democratic parties are associated with lower infant mortality rates and increased life expectancy. These findings suggest that reducing social inequalities through policy has a positive impact on public health.
Men from lower social classes face a two-fold increased risk of dying compared to those in higher strata, with smoking being the primary contributor. The study found that around half of the difference in male mortality rates across different socio-economic groups was attributed to smoking-related risks.