The Intersecting Health Consequences of Race, Gender, SES and Age: Testing Multiple-Hierarchy Stratification Hypotheses

• In Event: 343 - Section on Medical Sociology Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 21. Race, Class, Gender Intersectionality and Health

Abstract

This study examines how the interactive processes of racial/ethnic, gender and socioeconomic status stratification, and aging impact health trajectories. We draw on multiple-hierarchy stratification and life course perspectives to address two main research questions. First, does racial/ethnic stratification of health vary by gender and/or class? Second, does this combined inequality in health decrease, remain stable, or increase between middle and late life? We use panel data from the Health and Retirement Study and growth curve models to investigate group differences in trajectories of self-rated health among whites, blacks and Mexican Americans. Findings indicate that racial/ethnic inequality in health varies by gender and SES: racial/ethnic health inequality is greatest among women and those with lower levels of SES. Moreover, racial/ethnic minorities—especially women of color—experience diminished heath returns to socioeconomic resources. In addition, health stratification along racial/ethnic, gender and SES lines varied between middle and late life, most often declining with age. Our results suggest multiple-hierarchy stratification and life course approaches that contextualize health experiences along racial/ethnic, gender, SES, and age lines have considerable utility for understanding the social stratification of health.

Authors

• Tyson H. Brown, Vanderbilt University

• Liana Janine Richardson, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

• Taylor Hargrove, Vanderbilt University

• Courtney Sinclair Thomas, Vanderbilt University