HLPE1540

Reflective Journal

Scarlett Parker
2163370

Wednesday 3-6 workshop

Reflective Journal 1
I have found myself feeling a sense of open-mindedness towards the topic of health
as a whole. Thorough discussion within the workshop has proven to further educate
the more almost unspoken in our generation elements of health in our every day
lives.
For me and probably many others my thoughts have always instantly linked being
healthy with physical appearance. Chapter three of the textbook has dealt with the
well-being and well-ness of health, demonstrating that since the end of World War 2,
the wellness movement has become a more outspoken and dominant factor of this
subject. The wellness movement explains that every part of a person has an effect on
their overall health (Heil, D. (2014) in Germov, 2013, p. 41). The World Health
Organisation describes heath as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (World Health Organisation,
1946).

HLPE1540

Scarlett Parker

Reflective Journal

2163370

Wednesday 3-6 workshop

In reading this definition, I

linked it directly to the
concept of the
biophyschosocial (figure 1)
approach, exploring the
way in which health is
derived from an overlap
over biological,
psychological and social
elements (Germov, 2013, p.
44). Before this, it was easy

Figure 1

to assume that the major

characteristics of health were physical traits. Antonovskys research provides evidence
to argue this, stating that if a persons social, emotional, physical, mental and
educational aspects of life are non coherent, their ability to develop towards a
positive state of well being will suffer (Germov, 2013, 47). I have found myself
reading this and instantly relating it back to my own life and work. I have never taken
the time until now, to understand the domino effect in which these play in my own
life. I was born into a low/single income family; Ive had to work hard to make my
own money to be able to supply for myself. My family circumstance in which I was
born into has shaped my whole state of well being. Working full time, forty hours a
week, on top of full time study effects how much I sleep, the amount I get paid
(hence; what food I am able to buy) and most importantly, the level of stress I feel.
Antonovsky touches on this deeply in his research, specifically focusing on the way in
which stress levels are related to both mental and physical health. Poor mental health
can stream from low self-esteem which is linked closely to social exclusion. In the
end, the state in which we are born into (Wachowski (Director), 1999, [The
Matrix]) will have a detrimental effect on our well being. I feel as if Platos Allegory
of the cave reflects the ignorance of society, dealing closely with social exclusion.
Directly paralleling the prisoners, we have been born into our social status/conditions.
The prisoners grew up in this environment where they instantly believed in what they
could visually observe. This, to me, reflects the way in which media constructs and

HLPE1540
Reflective Journal

Scarlett Parker
2163370

Wednesday 3-6 workshop

shapes our thinking. If we dont look as fit as a model, its going to negatively effect
the way in which we view ourselves. Especially nowadays, I find myself feeling
envious towards not only the way people look, but their lifestyles. This constant
feeling of needing to fit in is added stress in my life when really this expectation
is un-realistic. In the end, after thorough research and discussion I have found that all
these aspects are making people vulnerable to even the slightest of mental disorders
(World Health Organisation, 2014).
The vision of health and all the ideologies behind what is healthy has expanded
and developed so much further and beyond physical attributes. Having read and
applied this knowledge, it has allowed me to relate it to my own life. It has truly
become a question of how much control we have over our health, and how much the
life we are born into impacts our biosychosocial balance of well being.

Reflective journal 2
Before these most recent workshops, I was under the impression that I was fully
aware of detrimental aspects of health. In the end, I found that I was greatly
uneducated, and these things I found self explanatory, were so much more than I had
expected. Such issues regarding class origins, social appetite and indigenous health
were significant in developing my learning, and expanding my views beyond my
assumed knowledge. Further class activities were, for me, useful in demonstrating
these unfamiliar aspects of health.
For me, the most relevant aspect of learning was during the class origins of health
inequality group simulation activity. The activity proved that without even knowing it,
class plays such a major part in my life. Germov states class is a major determinant
of social groups (Germov, 2013, p. 86) which became clear during the class task.
From the beginning, I found that I immediately wanted to be placed in the upper
class group, because I feel as if thats how Ive been brought up. Always being taught
to strive for the greatest outcome, I found myself simply settling for the middle

HLPE1540

Scarlett Parker

Reflective Journal

2163370

Wednesday 3-6 workshop

class. Being in the middle class during this simulation made me realize that I was
working so hard to simply keep within the minimum requirement for that group.
I found that the students in the upper class being able to assign their own rules
reflected high-class government officials. Equally finding out through discussion, the
middle class striving to stay put, and the working class striving to remove them from
that label. Subsequently, finding myself placed within the middle class in the
simulation, I was unaware about the extent in which class played when relating it to
my own work and social life. It became clear through this simulation task that social
exclusion (Germov, 2013, p. 86) already exists in this generation. I am in the middle
class in my own life, and simply try to get by week by week, to stay content in this
position.
Furthermore, I was completely unaware about the issues regarding the
McDonaldization of food. For me, the most significant ideas and issues arose from
viewing the 2009 Food Inc. documentary. It was difficult to bring myself to
understand the food incorporations, and how it truly is a world hidden away from
us. (Kenner, Food Inc. 2009) The way in which food companies are able to disguise
the way in which food is viewed through packaging and advertising was new
information to me. Personally, being unaware of these labeling tactics in which
companies use, I have always found myself attracted to what seems like healthy
alternatives. I found that I constantly find myself reading the nutritional information
provided, and not understanding the content. Equally, coming to the realization that
my primary and high school education systems should be addressing these issues.
Being a vegetarian myself, the Food Inc. documentary simply heightened the
negativity towards the food systems.
The industry doesnt want you know the truth about what youre eating (Kenner,
Food Inc 2009) often shying away from the unpleasant details of mass production.
The imagery of the slaughterhouses was confronting, and I wanted to investigate
myself. During a trip to the supermarkets, I found that the information Richard
Kenner (director) was bringing light too was unavoidable. From this life experience, it
is clear that labeling and manufacturing aim to disguise the truth behind the
production industry. This has significantly improved my understanding of these

HLPE1540

Scarlett Parker

Reflective Journal

2163370

Wednesday 3-6 workshop

company schemes and my ability to recognize mis-leading advertising has

developed greatly.
Indigenous health is a topic I feel as if I always knew as a prevalent issue in our
society, yet never felt the need to investigate further. The 2002 film Beneath Clouds
intrigued my learning, and assisted me in developing my understanding of the issue.
The way in which the Indigenous characters are treated I feel reflects our society in
various aspects. At first, I did not realize the urgency behind Indigenous health. We
were asked to write down the question: What are the moments you feel most
happy? during the workshop, and note down our responses. I found that throughout
the film, I discovered that I feel most happy around the important people in my life.
The journey in which Lena and Vaughn take presents the idea that when you lose
important people you end up losing yourself. I discovered that self-identity and
dissolving the distinction between self and other links closely to the social
exclusion of class origins.
This film recognizes many of the issues discussed during workshop, and closely
displays elements of racism towards the Indigenous community. Germov states,
Racism, too, has been implicated as a key determinant of ill-health (Germov, 2013,
p. 150). I found that having witnessed the scenes within the film, that these issues
were quite confronting and unfair towards the Indigenous community. Why is it that
police cars pulled over most indefinitely if an Indigenous person was walking or
driving? And didnt take a second look if it was any one different? Having been
introduced to Vaughns story, I understand that he (and quite possibly other
Indigenous people) are trapped in the viscous cycle of racism. I have discovered that I
have to put myself into context to truly feel connected to those who may be suffering
in my life, and to truly dissolve the barrier between self and other.
In the end, these issues in which I felt so unsure about have transformed into
passionately viewed aspects of health. I feel as if this understanding is essential to not
only me as a learner, but generally as a person. Class origins, social appetite and
indigenous health are all so prominent in our society, and as a next step I need to
further educate those who feel unfamiliar towards these health issues.
Word count: 945

HLPE1540
Reflective Journal

Scarlett Parker
2163370

Wednesday 3-6 workshop

Bibliography
Germov, John 2013, Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology, 5th
edition, Oxford University Press
Kenner, R 2009, Food Inc. [Documentary]. United States of America: Magnolia
Pictures
Sen, I. (Director) 2002, Beneath Clouds [Motion picture]. Australia: Australian Film
Finance Corporation.

HLPE1540
Reflective Journal
Wednesday 3-6 workshop

Scarlett Parker
2163370