Instruction
You will be responsible for researching and submitting 7-10 pages, research report on the below social problem in environmental sociology. The Report must describe the problem, state why the problem is important, contains scholarly literature on the causes of the problem based on what other scholars have found, theory to explain the problem, updated statistics as appropriate, and strong recommendations for solutions to the environmental social problem. Cite sources appropriately using the ASA Style Guide and include a cover page, a References page, and an Appendix if needed. These items are not included in the total number of pages for the Report.
COVID-19, Social Inequalities, and Pandemic Disasters
Since the publication of the Philadelphia Negro, persistent health and place-based disparities have been thoroughly documented in the United States. Those of lower social positions, defined by income, wealth, education, occupation; living in impoverished or medically underserved areas; or who belong to racial/ethnic groups have poorer health behaviors and health outcomes. Such disparities have the potential to become magnified when faced with a pandemic such as the current COVID-19 outbreak. Pandemic disasters, like the coronavirus (COVID-19), underscore the profound effects of the health disparities among our most vulnerable due to persistent social inequalities. The legacy of disasters and their impact on socially vulnerable populations is well documented; however, the emergency of the novel COVID-19 global pandemic poses a unique set of challenges as long-standing health disparities play out before our eyes when unsustainable healthcare infrastructures and a global pandemic collide.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
Papers that emphasize an intersectional approach (e.g., race, gender, and social class) in advancing our understanding of COVID-19 and health inequalities.
Papers that highlight how COVID-19 and future pandemic disasters have implications for the individual-(e.g., discrimination), place-(e.g., urbanicity), and community-oriented-(e.g., segregation) factors and their contribution to health inequities.
Papers that highlight community factors that affect health in preplanning for disasters so that communities are better able to realize healthier, more socially vibrant, and resilient communities.
Papers that emphasize how data modeling can be used to help understand and plan for disaster responses to ensure an equitable distribution of resources for future pandemic disasters.
Papers that illustrate how social determinants of health and social networks facilitate or reduce transmission of the COVID-19.