ABSTRACT
It is widely understood in health and social care that social determinants of health (SDH), or the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, have a profound effect on health and wellbeing. The current research extends this analysis to the impact of many forms of oppression on health and wellbeing. Racism, sexism, homophobia, classism (particularly poverty), ableism, genocide, colonization, and other oppressions generate heart-wrenching disparities in health and wellbeing across the globe. These disparities are now deepening in the context of both the coronavirus pandemic and the climate crisis which disproportionately affect the health and wellbeing of People of Colour and poor people. Despite the devastating impact of oppression, the indomitable nature of humans and their allies in the battle for human and planetary health is evident and inspiring.
