Research Paper on Sociology of Health and Illness Theories

The Social Conflict theory originates from the Marxist theoretical views on social relations and sociology. The Social Conflict theory holds the premise that social relations are grounded on the ongoing conflict between two antagonistic classes, the class of oppressed and the class of oppressors. The dominant position of one class and the oppressed position of another, according to the Social Conflict theory, is the main source of conflicts within the society.

At the same time, the Social Conflict theory holds the premise that conflicts between social classes are virtually inevitable because each class pursues its own goals, which are achievable at the cost of another class or other classes (Hughes, et al., 2007). However, the excessive social, external orientation is one of the major weaknesses of the Social Conflict theory. What is meant here is the fact that the Social Conflict theory tends to explain key issues emerging in social relations by the impact of the social environment and socioeconomic situation. For instance, the Social Conflict theory would explain a poor health condition of a person rather by his/her low social standing than by individual habits and unhealthy lifestyle.

As a result, the Social Conflict theory holds the premise that the public health issues as well as individual health issues should be viewed from the social perspective. To put it more precisely, the Social Conflict theory views public health problems as consequences of social conflicts and social inequality (Babbie, 2003). The lack of access of certain social groups to health care services because of their low social standing and low income to health care services deprives them of the possibility to receive proper health care services. Hence, they become more vulnerable to the development of various health problems that representatives of the upper-classes. The similar trend can be traced at the individual level. If an individual belongs to the lower, oppressed class, he/she cannot afford health care services, while representatives of the dominant upper-class can benefit from the latest advancements in the field of health care services.

In this regard, nursing practices are also vulnerable to the impact of the antagonism between social classes raising barriers on the way to nursing care for representatives of the oppressed class and offering extensive nursing care services for representatives of the upper-classes. At this point, it is important to understand that the Social Conflict theory does not view the social class as the main reason for the accessibility or the lack of access to the nursing care (Hughes, et al., 2007). Instead, the social class is the manifestation of the socioeconomic status of individuals.

According to the Social Conflict theory the social inequality is the main reason for barriers to access nursing care as well as health care services for representatives of the lower classes just because they cannot afford paying for nursing and health care services. On the contrary, representatives of the upper-classes have the higher income and stable social standing that allows them covering their heath care costs. As a result, they have wider access to the nursing care services. In such a way, the social inequality is the core reason of the inequality in the access of individuals to nursing care.

The inequality in the access of individuals to nursing care increases the tension between social classes. For instance, the lack of access to basic nursing and health care services increases the tension because representatives of the low-income class cannot afford covering their nursing care or health care services (Hughes, et al., 2007). As a result, they become marginalized and feel being left-aside that may lead to the open social conflict. In this regard, cases of social protests and demands of representatives of the low-income class to enhance their social support are frequent, while the government attempts to take responsibility and to tackle the social conflict offering diverse programs to fund health care services for the poor and those in need. For instance, the US government sponsors such programs as Medicare and Medicaid, which aim at the assistance to those, who cannot cover their nursing and health care costs. In such a way, the government attempts to prevent the open social conflict between the poor and the rest of the US society.

Another example of the manifestation of the social inequality as a distinct feature of social relations in the field of nursing, according to the Social Conflict theory, is the different quality of services offered for representatives of different social classes( Babbie, 2003). For instance, low-income families, which represent the lower social class, can count on basic nursing care services only. Often they cannot cover costs of the extensive treatment and rehabilitation, involving the long-lasting nursing care. Instead, representatives of the upper-class can count on nursing care services of the high quality since they can cover costs of such services and they receive them as long as they need.

In fact, manifestations of the social inequality and the antagonism between different social classes can be traced in the contemporary nursing care. At this point, the gap in the quality of nursing care services delivered to low-income families and to representatives of the upper-class is striking. For instance, representatives of the low-income families often cannot afford covering cost of their medication, while they cannot pay for nursing care services at all (Hughes, et al., 2007). Instead, today, representatives of the middle- and upper-class have the health insurance, which covers the costs of their nursing care and health care services either to the full extent or partially.

In actuality, socioeconomic roots of the unequal access to nursing care are obvious since the high costs of nursing care as well as health care services become the major barrier on the way of patients to those services (Babbie, 2003). As a result, the poor, who cannot afford health insurance, naturally fail to get access to nursing care and health care services. The only way they can receive at least basic nursing care and health care services is the government support or the support from the part of NGOs and non-profit organizations. Instead, the higher income of representatives of the middle- and upper-class allows them covering their health insurance. As a result, they can cover their nursing care and health care services receiving the wider access to those services.

Thus, the Social Conflict theory explains the persisting inequality in the access of representatives of different social classes to nursing care and health care services by socioeconomic factors and persisting social inequality. The lack of access to nursing care and health care services becomes one of the main reasons for the growing tension between different social classes today. However, the Social Conflict theory underestimates the significance of the individual lifestyle and individual choices in the social standing of individuals and their access to nursing care and health care services.