Essay Questions

Gender encompasses the characteristics which a particular culture or society delineates as feminine or masculine (Judith (1993). Biological discrepancies between females and males determine gender by initiating enduring differences in dispositions and abilities. For instance; the left-brain dominance is believed to induce more rationality in men while inadequate brain lateralization induces women to be more emotional compared to men. Butler, (2004) presents gender as a social construction which exemplifies on how the society accomplishes the differentiation which characterizes gender order. The concept of gender comprises of rules and norms and philosophies of accepted ethics, behaviour which defines societal characteristics and existence.

According to Palmore (1999), ageism refers to deeply grounded negative premises ad beliefs about the old persons and the ageing process; which breed forth discrimination. Such negative perceptions are socially initiated reinforced and constructed since they are abundant in our local institutions, and social life. Butler (1980) maintained that ageism comprises of three components namely cognitive, behavioural component and affective components. Since it affects these components; it has ability to affect the aged in those areas. Cognitive component constitutes the stereotypes and beliefs about the aged persons. Behavioural component entails discriminatory practices against the old people; while affective component is the prejudicial perceptions towards the aged.

Marshall (1964) defines citizenship as “full membership of a community.” He views citizenship as a construction of three crucial elements; political, social and civic. Civil citizenship comprises of civil rights which are pertinent to personal freedom, person’s liberty, freedom of speech, faith and thought; the right to possess property, the right to justice and the right to collude valid contacts. Political citizenship constitutes the right and privileges to participate and support the exercise of power, as a member of a given body or as an elector of the members of such a body. Social citizenship is a construct of rights to security and economic welfare.

Social model of disability is an agglomeration of views and principles which inspires disabled people to view themselves more positively; consequently increasing their self-esteem and independence. The medical model of disability perceives disabled people as a medical challenge; which triggers the victims of disability to view their condition as their problem. Social model reiterates that disability is not a personal problem; and that the impaired people cannot favourably compete in equal terms because they are subjected to barriers; and therefore we need to recognize that society has a role in alleviating the barriers; which is the prime reason why it questions medical model (Kahn, and Kamerman, 2002).

Sex refers to the biological characteristics of being female or male (Bilgehan, 2011). The enactments in the domain of social and law has drastically re-oriented the skewed perceptions and discrimination along sexual extractions. Historically the differences in sex are largely cited as the basis of unequal treatment. However, the legal enactments over the recent history have unpacked associated discrimination against women in which has comfortably provided women with leadership positions. Legal frameworks have also decriminalized any form of discrimination which has paved a way for equality and justice regardless of sexual affiliations (Hall, 2012). Social reforms in education have reversed and changed people’s perceptions.

I maintain that the Health and Social Care practitioners should challenge their own ethical values. The concept of reflecting on one’s on doings (offline and online reflection) has a potential to improve one’s performance at work. By challenging their ethical values, the Health and Social Practitioners are susceptible to establish whether they are acting within the provisions of personal and professional values. They get to reflect of their own doings and adjust their reputation to suit the required standards. The values such as capability, equality and altruism being prominent in the health profession can be part of oneself through a critical self-reflection (Shakespeare, and Watson, 2001).

Social exclusion refers to a form of discrimination which happens when individuals are partially or fully excluded from, participating in social, economic or political aspects of a society based on their belonging to a particular societal class group or category. Social exclusion according to Blackman, Brodhurst, and Convery (2001), is made up of three distinctive features. First, it impacts people’s entitlements and rights; hence depriving them opportunities to obtain and maintain a globally acceptable standard of living and attain self-actualization. Secondly, social exclusion involves and engages culturally-defined social classes, with embedded cultural views, norms, and values which define social interaction. Thirdly, social exclusion is founded on the threshold of social relations (Lorber, and Farrell, 1991).

Ethnicity refers to a demography group whose members identify one another based on common shared culture, nationality or traditions. On the other hand, race is a concept and criterion of dividing people into groups based on their constituent physical traits which chiefly arises from genetic ancestry (Law, 2013). Racial discrimination is alive and well in some parts of the world. In the context of UK, a racially diverse constructs have an ability to induce tensions due to the following reasons;

1. Racism ruins our moral values. Racism according to Spoonley (1988) has an ability to destroy the moral values and principles in our societies which may incite violence.
2. Racism hinders a collective contribution of citizens into matters which affect them. In such a circumstance where a portion of individuals are denied the right to contribute to issues of governance, peace will hardly flourish.
3. A racially diverse UK may give birth to an ethnocentric country especially when particular groups fail to respect and appreciate others’ differences.
4. When racism is given space to blossom; it constructs as society where members do not trust one another.
5. Empirical studies have revealed that where racism thrives, the victims especially the young people are impacted negatively. They develop on-going feelings of anger, sadness, and depression and exclusion (Wallerstein, 1987).