Discussion Activity 1

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Southern University and A&M College *

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101

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Sociology

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Apr 3, 2024

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Chapter One: Sociology and Real World De’Jia Landry Southern University Introduction to Sociology Anthony Lawrence February 4, 2024
Applying the Conflict Theory to COVID-19 The sociological theory of conflict, which looks at power relationships and social inequality in society, provides a helpful foundation for comprehending the COVID-19 pandemic's effects. According to this theory, society is made up of various parties that fight with one another for dominance and resources, which leads to disputes and social change. There are a few key factors to consider while applying conflict theory to the COVID-19 pandemic. First, conflict theory draws attention to the ways in which societal injustices may impact people's ability to obtain medical care during a pandemic. For example, Black, Latinx, and American Indian persons have been hospitalized and died at a higher rate than White persons consistently from the start of the pandemic (Tai). It has shown inequities in healthcare systems, with vulnerable people frequently encountering obstacles when attempting to obtain examinations, medical care, and vaccinations. This can be explained by elements including location, race, and socioeconomic level. Existing gaps have been made worse by the unequal distribution of healthcare resources, which has resulted in varied outcomes for different social groups. Conflict theory highlights economic inequality in the context of the epidemic. Existing economic disparities have been made worse by COVID-19, with small enterprises and low- income people suffering heavily from lockdowns and downturns in the economy. According to sources, the unemployment rate peaks were 18.5% for Black and 16.7% for Latinx persons during the pandemic compared to 14.1% for White persons (Tai). Large companies and wealthy individuals have witnessed an increase in wealth during the crisis, though. This illustrates how the epidemic has increased economic inequality, which has exacerbated social inequality. Furthermore, when inequality increases, conflict theory emphasizes the possibility of social discontent and resistance. People and communities have expressed their discontent with government policies, resource distribution, and perceived injustices through protests and rallies during the pandemic. These movements may be understood as a reaction to the pandemic's disparate effects on various groups, highlighting the social tensions that have arisen from the crisis. The global setting of the epidemic can also be studied using conflict theory, especially considering the uneven distribution of vaccines among the various nations. For instance, However, high-income countries have pre- ordered many the world’s COVID -19 vaccine doses. This may leave low- and middle-income COVAX member countries reliant on donations from high-income member countries and jeopardize equitable distribution ( Burgos ) . This has brought to light the power dynamics that exist between developed and developing countries, with wealthier nations controlling a large share of the vaccine supply, putting developing nations at a disadvantage, and escalating global inequality. In conclusion, analyzing the power relationships, societal injustices, and conflicts that have surfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic is made possible by applying conflict theory to the situation. It is feasible to comprehend the pandemic's larger social impacts and pinpoint places in which societal development and reform are required by examining these facets. Understanding the disparate effects of the pandemic and the resulting social dynamics is made easier with the help of conflict theory.
References Tai, Don Bambino Geno, et al. “Disproportionate Impact of Covid -19 on Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups in the United States: A 2021 Update.” Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities , U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8513546/#:~:text=Black%2C%20Latinx%2C%2 0and%20American%20Indian,children%20in%20a%20worrying%20trend . Accessed 04 Feb. 2024. Burgos, Rodrigo M et al. “The race to a COVID -19 vaccine: opportunities and challenges in development and distribution.” Drugs in context vol. 10 2020-12-2. 16 Feb. 2021, doi:10.7573/dic.2020-12-2
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