•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Pandemics represent both social change and continuance. While these public health crises bring about seemingly new issues, they also have a unique ability to reveal pre-existing problems within our society and perpetual social processes. Understanding historical patterns related to public health crises provides greater insight on the ongoing pandemic and American policy needs. Research reveals that, both historically and presently, systemic social injustices and economic inequalities are inflamed by such events. As a result, pandemics disproportionately affect minority groups in several interconnected ways. In examining public health theory, past pandemics, and the present moment, the effects of both power disparities and increased pressure on an already divided society become painfully apparent. I contend that in the digital age, the power structures underwriting our collective social response to public health crises are changing. With social and mass media providing minority groups a greater platform to vocalize their interests, we have seen an unprecedented push for progressive social change. As such, this pandemic represents an interesting perpetuation and deviation from historical public health crisis social response patterns.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.