Health Inequality

The persistence of stark health inequalities in today’s world is painfully clear to see, not least in the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and falling life expectancy in many parts of the world. How can we advance our understanding of the full extent of health inequality, what drives it, and ways to address it?

The third edition of this popular book closely examines the influence of social class, gender, and race/ethnicity (among other issues) on health in the light of broad macro-political contexts. The classic behavioural, psychosocial, and material approaches to health and their embodiment within a life-course perspective are introduced but, importantly, are also re-situated within the growing understanding of the commercial and political determinants of health. Bartley and Kelly-Irving draw on extensive new evidence that shows how the chances for everyone to lead a long and healthy life depend on where power lies to control health-damaging policies and introduce health-promoting ones.

Health Inequality will continue to be essential reading for students taking courses in the sociology of health and illness, social policy and welfare, health sciences, public health and epidemiology and all those interested in understanding the consequences of social inequality for health. Introduction to the Third Edition
1. Measuring Social Inequality
2. What is Health Inequality?
3. Figuring Out Health Inequality
4. Explanatory Models I: Behavioural Explanations
5. Explanatory Models II: Material Explanations
6. Explanatory Models III: Psychosocial Factors
7. The Life Course and Embodiment
8. Gender and Inequality in Health
9. Racialization and Health Inequality
10. The Macro Social Environment: Political, Economic and Commercial Contexts
Conclusion: The Way Forward for Research and Policy Debate

"This welcome third edition offers a critically updated conceptual, practical and historically informed guide to why work on describing, causally analysing and changing health inequities must tackle embodiment, class, gender and racialization as well as the political, economic and commercial determinants of health."
Nancy Krieger, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

"Social inequalities in health are a major challenge in all countries. This wonderfully clear book achieves something special: it provides insight both for people coming fresh to the topic and for those already steeped in it. Much to be recommended."
Michael Marmot, UCL Institute of Health Equity

Mel Bartley is Professor Emerita of Medical Sociology at the UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care.
Michelle Kelly-Irving is Director of Research at Inserm-Université Paul Sabatier.