Definition
In the context of migrants, social inequalities refer to disadvantages, e. g. in education, in working and living conditions and in economic resources, experienced by groups for whom their extra‐territorial origins serve as identity marker in their host communities. In most countries, a considerable proportion of migrants lives in socially deprived conditions and therefore experiences social inequalities relative to the majority population. Such inequalities usually, but not necessarily, result in visible and measurable health disadvantages.
Basic Characteristics
Socioeconomic Status and Health
Most known societies are heterogeneous in socio-economic terms; different parts of the population live under different socioeconomic conditions, have different levels of education, etc. Such differences often provide the basis for social stratification, e. g. in social classes. Socioeconomic status or social class is in...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adler NE, Ostrove JM (1999) Socioeconomic status and health: what we know and what we don't. Ann New York Acad Sci 896:3–15
Culyer AJ (1993) Equity and equality in health and health care. J Heal Econ 12:431–457
Frankfurt H (1997) Equality and Respect. Soc Res 64:3–15
Hart CL, Davey Smith G, Blane D (1998) Inequalities in mortality by social class measured at three stage of the lifecourse. Am J Public Heal 88:471–474
Helmert U, Mielck A, Shea S (1997) Poverty and health in West Germany. Sozial- Präventivmed 42:276–285
Rawls J (1999) A Theory of Justice. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Roberts MJ, Reich MR (2002) Ethical analysis in public health. Lancet 359:1055–1059
Townsend P, Davidson N (1982) (eds) Inequalities in Health: The Black Report. Pelican, London
Wilkinson R (1996) Unhealthy Societies. Routledge, London
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag
About this entry
Cite this entry
Spallek, J., Razum, O. (2008). Migrants, Social Inequalities . In: Kirch, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Public Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5614-7_2194
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5614-7_2194
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-5613-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-5614-7
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine