ABSTRACT
Before reviewing the debate over class inequalities in health, it is as well to be aware of the problematic nature of measuring class. The first problem we encounter in this debate is how to measure the amount of health or illness in the population. As the working class suffers disproportionately from unemployment and unhealthy working conditions, the debate over class inequalities in health is linked with the controversy over the impact of employment and unemployment on health. The ill-effects of unemployment on people's health have been discussed for a number of decades, but now the debate also includes the hazards of paid work in periods of both economic growth and recession. This chapter reviews the debate about the health experience of ethnic minorities, both in terms of the wider social factors which affect their health, and the kind and quality of treatment they receive.
