"Unnatural Causes"
Unnatural Causes: In Sickness and in Wealth
Directed by: Larry Adelman
Episode 1 of the series Unnatural Causes titled “In Sickness and in Wealth” argues that your life expectancy is determined by where you live. The film explains how inequality is actually making us sick and ultimately causing people to die sooner just because of the communities they live in. I always thought health depended on certain behaviors and some genetics, but instead this film sheds light on that fact that healthy behaviors are choices that are determined by one’s ability to access resources that support a healthy life. The data that has been presented from research is very clear about who will live longer than another. So, why then are we not using this data to make resources accessible to neighborhoods in need so that people living in a particular zip code can have access to better choices, which in turn will help them live a longer and healthier life?
As the physician in the film drove through certain parts of Louisville, he asked some really important questions that struck me. For example, why aren’t there zoning laws regarding fast food? Why isn’t there better transportation, or better air quality in homes? Forgive me if I am wrong, but I believe in Barrington RI, which is an affluent town, there are no fast food restaurants or liquor stores, only a Dunkin Donuts without a drive thru. It appears that an affluent town can consider health benefits, however poorer towns/cities are bombarded with fast food restaurants and plenty of liquor stores too. I am still wondering, how can we make healthier options available and accessible to suffering communities?
In addition to healthier consumer options, we also talked in class about how to make neighborhoods better in order to improve it’s schools. I teach in a public charter school that serves students living in all areas of Providence. I have always thought of education as a way to move up in status and have better opportunities in life. I think it is still one of the important factors, however a good education doesn’t necessarily fix the communities where many of my students come from. Within school, my students are able to access a quality education, however once we send them off on their buses at the end of the day, students are forced to return home to neighborhoods that ultimately determine how long they will live. The film states, “Research shows that college graduates live on average 2 ½ years longer than high school graduates. Education offers a way to move up the wealth gradient...but getting it depends on whether or not you can afford it.” In other words, in many cases an education can only get you as far as your resources can take you.
As this film reveals, there is some hope to all this inequality. This status is “not a fixed property...we can change it.” The differences are not natural causes, they are “unnatural causes.” With the right resources, one can take control and make his/her life as well as the lives of others that much better! Life expectancy is therefore dependent on the resources within the neighborhood one lives in, and why can’t we change the inequalities of resources? Here is another example of an animated clip demonstrating the inequality in life expectancy. I think the simple yet powerful graphics speak loudly.
Directed by: Larry Adelman
Episode 1 of the series Unnatural Causes titled “In Sickness and in Wealth” argues that your life expectancy is determined by where you live. The film explains how inequality is actually making us sick and ultimately causing people to die sooner just because of the communities they live in. I always thought health depended on certain behaviors and some genetics, but instead this film sheds light on that fact that healthy behaviors are choices that are determined by one’s ability to access resources that support a healthy life. The data that has been presented from research is very clear about who will live longer than another. So, why then are we not using this data to make resources accessible to neighborhoods in need so that people living in a particular zip code can have access to better choices, which in turn will help them live a longer and healthier life?
As the physician in the film drove through certain parts of Louisville, he asked some really important questions that struck me. For example, why aren’t there zoning laws regarding fast food? Why isn’t there better transportation, or better air quality in homes? Forgive me if I am wrong, but I believe in Barrington RI, which is an affluent town, there are no fast food restaurants or liquor stores, only a Dunkin Donuts without a drive thru. It appears that an affluent town can consider health benefits, however poorer towns/cities are bombarded with fast food restaurants and plenty of liquor stores too. I am still wondering, how can we make healthier options available and accessible to suffering communities?
In addition to healthier consumer options, we also talked in class about how to make neighborhoods better in order to improve it’s schools. I teach in a public charter school that serves students living in all areas of Providence. I have always thought of education as a way to move up in status and have better opportunities in life. I think it is still one of the important factors, however a good education doesn’t necessarily fix the communities where many of my students come from. Within school, my students are able to access a quality education, however once we send them off on their buses at the end of the day, students are forced to return home to neighborhoods that ultimately determine how long they will live. The film states, “Research shows that college graduates live on average 2 ½ years longer than high school graduates. Education offers a way to move up the wealth gradient...but getting it depends on whether or not you can afford it.” In other words, in many cases an education can only get you as far as your resources can take you.
As this film reveals, there is some hope to all this inequality. This status is “not a fixed property...we can change it.” The differences are not natural causes, they are “unnatural causes.” With the right resources, one can take control and make his/her life as well as the lives of others that much better! Life expectancy is therefore dependent on the resources within the neighborhood one lives in, and why can’t we change the inequalities of resources? Here is another example of an animated clip demonstrating the inequality in life expectancy. I think the simple yet powerful graphics speak loudly.
Hi Lauren, I really enjoyed reading your post. I especially enjoyed how you were able to differentiate between healthier, more affluent neighborhoods and their counterparts using places we can relate to such as Barrington, and Providence RI. I agree that I have noticed many of these differences before as well, and have wondered myself why the differences between neighborhoods are so exaggerated? It's almost like two completely different worlds!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how the differences in neighborhoods are so exaggerated. Part of it may be that we as a society pay for our schools through city taxes. We seem to want to reward those who have 'made it' while we punish those who need help. Ridiculous! We need a complete overhaul.
ReplyDeleteBut Lauren, as you mention, there is a positive note at the end of the video. There are some changes in the ways that some people are thinking about things. So, hooray for that!
I like where you pointed out that 'research shows that college graduates live on average 2 ½ years longer than high school graduates. Education offers a way to move up the wealth gradient...but getting it depends on whether or not you can afford it.” In other words, in many cases an education can only get you as far as your resources can take you'. ... I feel that this is very evident in my school district as well. I see students from low socioeconomic households who are often unable to attend school because they need to work instead or watch their younger siblings while their parents are at work, which inhibits them from accessing education.
ReplyDeleteI think the image you included is very telling of the message that the video was trying to portray. I agree that it is perplexing that with all of the data that exists, more has not been done to provide necessary resources and funding in order to provide basic necessities. I think most of us can see these examples in our experiences with the schools we work in and recognize the imbalances that exist.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
ReplyDeleteThis post also got me wondering how/why we come to think of health as simply being a product of good/bad choices (e.g. diet, exercise, smoking, etc.) -- I think it ties in with the ways school (and other institutions) teach us to think about issues individually (as opposed to "upstream").
"Healthy behaviors are choices that are determined by one’s ability to access resources that support a healthy life." I am glad I was not the only one who was enlightened by this! It is very interesting to see how the circumstances you are born into shape the opportunities you have as well as the impact it has on your health.
ReplyDelete