Final answer:
The physical toll that inequality takes on people's bodies encompasses the various negative health outcomes associated with social determinants of health, including structural violence, and discriminatory practices like racism. These contribute to chronic stress, poor diet, unhealthy living and working conditions, creating disparities in health related to both physical and mental well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physical Toll of Inequality
The physical toll that inequality takes on people's bodies is referred to in various ways, but it is often understood as the impact of social determinants of health, which include the array of social, economic, and environmental factors that influence health outcomes. Health inequalities can reflect numerous factors such as higher rates of unemployment, poverty, and obesity, as well as lower rates of education, home ownership, and wealth. This can lead to disparities in physical and mental health, impacting things like life expectancy, disability, and pregnancy outcomes. In particular, poor diet, living and working in unhealthy environments, and the lack of power to challenge the system can lead to illness among the poor. Also, systemic issues like structural violence and racism in the healthcare system result in negative health outcomes for marginalized groups.
Racism, sexism, ageism, and heterosexism create additional health disparities beyond those caused by socioeconomic class. These forms of discrimination can be seen as chronic stressors that, through the process of perceived control and general adaptation syndrome, lead to a series of stress responses that accumulate over time, contributing to mental and physical health problems such as depression and cardiovascular disease.
Obesity, as another example, is associated with negative impacts on health and well-being, as well as societal costs like lower life expectancies and increased healthcare expenses. Furthermore, the inequality in society at large reflects in an unequal distribution of resources, often leading to inequity, especially when it results from the unjust exercise of power against marginalized groups.