Nine Addressing health inequalities: building on Peter Townsend’s legacy
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Margaret Whitehead
Abstract
This chapter considers health inequalities, an area in which Peter used his science and his art to press for more effective action. It notes that far from allowing the Conservative government at the time to bury the findings of the Black Report on health inequalities, which focused on the social determinants of health, Peter’s efforts turned it into a Penguin best-seller with three editions. It also draws on Peter’s work to discuss both the nature of the national and global challenges that remain, as well as considering the link between poverty and health.
Abstract
This chapter considers health inequalities, an area in which Peter used his science and his art to press for more effective action. It notes that far from allowing the Conservative government at the time to bury the findings of the Black Report on health inequalities, which focused on the social determinants of health, Peter’s efforts turned it into a Penguin best-seller with three editions. It also draws on Peter’s work to discuss both the nature of the national and global challenges that remain, as well as considering the link between poverty and health.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- Preface viii
- Notes on contributors ix
- The legacy of Peter Townsend 1
- The making of a pioneer researcher: reflections from Peter Townsend’s life story 29
- Peter Townsend, a man ahead of his time: re-reading The family life of old people and The last refuge 59
- The case for universal child benefit 79
- Poverty 91
- Social justice for children: investigating and eradicating child poverty 111
- For universalism and against the means test 133
- Underclass, overclass, ruling class, supernova class 153
- Addressing health inequalities: building on Peter Townsend’s legacy 175
- Towards a new sociology of ageing: from structured dependency to critical gerontology 193
- Disability: prospects for social inclusion 223
- Putting the lawyers in their place: the role of human rights in the struggle against poverty 241
- Radicalising social policy in the 21st century: a global approach 257
- Conclusion: building on the legacy of Peter Townsend 275
- Index 303
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures and tables vii
- Preface viii
- Notes on contributors ix
- The legacy of Peter Townsend 1
- The making of a pioneer researcher: reflections from Peter Townsend’s life story 29
- Peter Townsend, a man ahead of his time: re-reading The family life of old people and The last refuge 59
- The case for universal child benefit 79
- Poverty 91
- Social justice for children: investigating and eradicating child poverty 111
- For universalism and against the means test 133
- Underclass, overclass, ruling class, supernova class 153
- Addressing health inequalities: building on Peter Townsend’s legacy 175
- Towards a new sociology of ageing: from structured dependency to critical gerontology 193
- Disability: prospects for social inclusion 223
- Putting the lawyers in their place: the role of human rights in the struggle against poverty 241
- Radicalising social policy in the 21st century: a global approach 257
- Conclusion: building on the legacy of Peter Townsend 275
- Index 303
