Another Critical Blow to ObamaCare

Samwell Seed Well

Samwell Seed Well

Well-Known Member
echelon1k1 said:
That's not a bogan bro, can't you junkies get anything right?
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https://pub209healthcultureandsociety.wikispaces.com/Bogan+Health+and+Cultural+Capital

Shane “Sha
gga” Merret, age 34 (left) is a self confessed Bogan. He loves going to the footy, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and wearing both rock band clothing and Ugg boots (Jones, 2012).

According to Australian society, this cultural artifact is indicative of a Bogan as Shane’s main characteristics are associated with this stereotype. Generally speaking, the term Bogan is a derogatory term associated with people of a low socioeconomic status, primarily from Australia. Characteristics such as poor education, unrefined accent, cheap dress style and limited manners, are what differ Bogans most from the general Australian public (Lauder, 2008).

Public Health Issue

There are a number of public health issues associated with the Bogan demographic due to their inability to meet needs such as healthy nutrition, adequate health care and education (Pini, Mcdonald, & Mayes, 2012). Primarily the concern is that Bogans are partaking in unhealthy behaviours such as binge drinking, smoking and poor diet choices. These behaviours are a chief public health concern as they can all lead to significant health implications that increase the likelihood of disease, disability and death (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010).

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours are expected if someone is Bogan due to the norms and values of this sub culture.This analysis will investigate the role of cultural capital in generating and sustaining health inequalities and the relationship between cultural group and socioeconomic position in regards to Bogans.


Literature Review

French Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu proposed the concepts of Cultural capital, Economic capital and Social capital. Cultural capital refers to people’s informational and symbolic resources that enable social mobility, and can greatly influence Economic and social Capital (Abel, 2008).

These cultural resources such as education, skills and knowledge are obtained through social learning and differ between social classes (Abel, 2008). A Bogan would have limited Cultural capital due to there being a low level of education (Pini et al., 2008).

In regards to the analysis of health inequality, resources such as behavioural norms and knowledge are the cultural capital tools that can be used to improve health. A Bogan’s limited cultural capacity may be a reason as to why they do not take good care of their health, as there norms and knowledge towards health is limited. Additionally, an individual’s cultural capital capacity affects decision making in regards to economic and social health decisions (Abel, 2008).

Economic related health capital is any economic related decisions that influences health, including food purchase decisions, payment for health services and health insurance. Typically Bogans purchase unhealthy food, rarely visit health services and do not invest in their health. Cultural capital has a significant influential role towards economic related health choices as one’s education, knowledge and values will influence spending behaviour (Abel, 2008). Bogans spend their economic capital on toys, alcohol and other consumer items. Due to a Bogan’s lack of knowledge and care about health, the spending of money to maintain a suitable level of wellbeing is not a high priority (Pini et al., 2008).

A prime example of how cultural capital can influence economic decisions is the emergence of the cashed up Bogans. This term relates to Australia’s recent resource boom where there was a demand for skilled labour which led to Blue collar Bogan’s finding themselves earning six figure salaries. These Bogans now have a greater economic capital, however they are still spending their money on expensive consumer items such as fancy utes and boats (Pini et al.,2008).

Social related health capital is any access to interpersonal support systems that have health benefits such as groups and clubs (Hawe & Shiell, 2000). Cultural resources play a vital role in the application of health related social capital benefits as they greatly influence an individual’s acceptance within a support system. This is due to particular set of values being needed, such as knowing how to communicate and also the use of appropriate language in order to be accepted (Abel, 2008). The ability to use communication may be limited for people of Bogan status, as they tend to associate themselves with those who have a lack of manners and communication skills, therefore also demonstrating these qualities (Pini et al., 2008).

Furthermore Bourdieu proposed the concept of habitus, which analyses routines that a person or group takes part in daily. The concept regarding habitus was developed by looking at similarities between individuals and classes who have equal experiences and from this understand how they have become an indicator of that culture. In other words, habitus is the collective set of practices and habits that an individual or collective group partakes in on a day to day basis (Abel, 2008; Portes, 2000)

The theory of habitus helps explain how Bogans who have the means to take better care of their health do not. As through their life they acquired the perception that there health is not a priority (Abel, 2008). From this perspective, it can be viewed that a Bogan’s practices and habits were formed early on in life and are difficult to change.

When taking an analysis of the role of cultural capital and habitus it should be considered that research regarding Bourdieu’s theory has been criticised. Pierre’s concepts have been critiqued for not being clear and therefore findings have been varied due to researchers interpreting his theory in different ways. Additionally, Bourdieu has been critiqued regarding his lack of consideration towards gender in the majority of his work (Swartz, 2003; Portes, 2000).

Cultural and social analysis

The most recent social change regarding Bogans that has influenced Australian social class has been the emergence of the cashed up Bogan. As stated in the literature review, this term relates to Australia’s recent resource boom where a demand for skilled labor led to many blue collar Bogans finding themselves earning six figure salaries. Access to this extra economic capital has allowed for social mobility of Bogans who were once part of the lower socio-economic class to move up into the middle class, at least from an economic perspective. However, this recent social change has resulted in the rest of Australia reinforcing class boundaries through discrimination of Bogans to distinguish them socially, as economically they are now similar (Pini et al., 2008)

Cashed up or not, Bogans are still typically viewed as coming from a low socio-economic status (Lauder, 2008). Socioeconomic status is the combination of different social factors: income, education and occupation (Clarke & Leigh, 2011). However, the issue is not whether a tradesman is now making more money than someone with a university degree. The key issue is that Bogans emerged from a class struggle, which developed a strong culture that has inherited some unhealthy behaviours (Lauder, 2008).

Bogans are regarded as having a low social status in Australia, with low social status occurring more for people living in remote areas, individual’s without-post school qualifications, and the unemployed (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010). Social status directly affects health and those at a low level are at greater likelihood of disease, disability and death (Sapolsky, 2004). In Australia, recent trends have seen that individuals of a low socio economic status are more likely to be obese, smoke tobacco, drink excessive alcohol, be physically inactive and have a poor diet (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010).

Much of the population who fit into low social class have or have had at some stage the lack of money to meet such needs as nutrition, health care, education and other needs of everyday life (Haughton & Khandker, 2009). Current statistics show that in Australia, inequality is evident with a significant amount of Australians living below the poverty line. The amount of people living below the poverty line (50% of median income) in Australia is approximately 12.8% (Poverty in Australia, 2009), while almost 70% of all wealth in Australia is owned by the richest (Lauder, 2008).
This inequality can be reflected by estimates on differences in mortality between the poor and rich within society. Research has found that the disadvantaged within society have lower life expectancy (4 years less males, 2 years less females) and mortality rates were twice as high (Clark &Leigh, 2011).

Therefore, from a public health perspective the awareness of Bogan health is an important issue as Bogans represent a proportion of the disadvantaged and highlight an inequality within Australia.

Analysis of the Artefact and Reflection

At face value, this artifact represents a typical Australian Bogan, the pun of many derogatory views from the rest of Australia. However, looking beyond the Ugg boots and ACDC, the artifact represents a subculture within Australian society which is facing many problems including health inequality. The artifact is of a proud Bogan, demonstrating that Bogans are proud of their behaviour even if many of the behaviours reduce their ability to lead a healthy life.

Before researching the issue at hand I had always seen Bogans as a problem within society who deserved to be ignored. However, through research I personally found it interesting how a demographic such as Bogans are much more then beer drinkers. Instead, they actually represent a product of lower Australian class and inequality within our country. Until now, I had always perceived a person’s health as a direct indicator of their wealth, although now I realize that a person’s culture can be an influence on their health.

For future reference I believe this assessment piece has resulted in my learning of the forming of assumptions when it comes to different cultures, classes and people within society. It has also taught me that the way people are is not always a conscious decision and that many people are a product of their environment and therefore should be helped instead of discriminated against.

Reflective Comments


Hi Casey,



This was an interesting wiki presentation, and you’ve made an admirable scientific analysis of psychopaths. I particularly like how you have discussed the recent developments in neuroscience. I have learnt a little about biological detriments effecting mental health illnesses such as depression, however I did not realise this included psychopaths. Previous to reading your Wiki I had never realised that psychopaths are a public health issue and most of the knowledge I had was from fictitious late night television dramas.



I strongly agree with your point in your cultural analysis regrading those who are disadvantaged within society need aid. Recently, I reviewed the disadvantaged within Australian Society, focussing on the culture of “bogans”. It’s startling to discover how disadvantaged one can be just because they were born into a home of low socio-economic status! I found that those of a low socioeconomic status are at a higher risk of disease and have lower life expectancies. To see that the risk factors such as violence are more likely as well highlights that the disadvantaged really do need help in order to make our society a better place.



Obviously a very intricate issue regarding psychopaths and how they are influenced by biological predispositions and society, good job!
 
echelon1k1

echelon1k1

New Member
Samwell Seed Well said:
https://pub209healthcultureandsociety.wikispaces.com/Bogan+Health+and+Cultural+Capital

Obviously a very intricate issue regarding psychopaths and how they are influenced by biological predispositions and society, good job!
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Hey bro, you shouldn't post articles that end with an apt description of the user that has chosen to cite the article;

Obviously a very intricate issue regarding psychopaths and how they are influenced by biological predispositions and society
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Next time google "heroin - biological predispositions and society" before acting the fool :dunce:
 
canndo

canndo

Well-Known Member
yeah, we should have gotten that other guy, the one with the dancing horse, you would be working full time for a buck twenty an hour shining shoes and checking into the ER with lung trouble or food poisoning. oh, soo much better.
 
canndo

canndo

Well-Known Member
greenlikemoney said:
That, my friend, is about as liberally far-left as a person can get. It's not my, yours, or our governments responsibility to take care of illegal aliens ( criminals ) and their anchor babies. Period.
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what kind of country do you want to live in again? Bangladesh maybe? You DO know that legals are poor and have babies too, right?
 
diet coke

diet coke

Active Member
Who makes 30+post a day for over three years???
Yet everyone else is crazy, racist, and fanatical ??? Get a job
 
abandonconflict

abandonconflict

Well-Known Member
canndo said:
yeah, we should have gotten that other guy, the one with the dancing horse, you would be working full time for a buck twenty an hour shining shoes and checking into the ER with lung trouble or food poisoning. oh, soo much better.
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Sick of hearing it, it is almost 2014. I mean, still funny to rub it in their faces, but played out as a valid retort to pretty much any argument.
 
canndo

canndo

Well-Known Member
abandonconflict said:
Sick of hearing it, it is almost 2014. I mean, still funny to rub it in their faces, but played out as a valid retort to pretty much any argument.
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I will continue. Those who say "see how bad Obama is" conveniently ignore the fact that we had a bianary choice. This bad guy or that worse guy. Some one has to remind them. We got the better deal.
 
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