Social diversity and improving the healthy and wellbeing of marginalised/disadvanted/excluded groups

At the centre of the work that CHASE carried out is the aim of bringing together different theoretical perspectives to better understand the processes by which groups and individuals come to understand, or experience themselves as marginalised or excluded and the factors that shape these processes.

Our book, Theorising Social Exclusion published by Routledge, takes a multidisciplinary approach and focuses particularly on the often neglected cultural and social aspects of exclusion. In it we draw on a wide range of studies in which we have been involved in order to improve our understanding of the processes that foster exclusion and how to promote inclusion.

CHASE is involved in a wide variety of different studies that share a focus on the question of how best to respond in health and human service terms to social diversity in ways that actively support improving the health of marginalised/excluded/disadvantaged groups and thereby contribute to the reduction of health inequalities. Areas addressed by this programme include:

• diverse cultures and ethnicities
• diverse sexualities
• aboriginal health
• refugees
• migrants
• substance abusers
• older workers

Gender, stigma, discrimination and sexuality

Same sex attracted young people are on average three times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth (Victorian Burden of Disease Research Summary, VicHealth, 2005)

'As health researchers, we need to acknowledge and work with the diversity within social groupings and the multiple marginalities people may inhabit that impact upon social and mental health. Ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, disability, stigmatised illness, socio-economic status, rurality and other categories of potential marginality and exclusion are increasingly being acknowledged as interconnected in the promotion of health and wellbeing.’ Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Senior Lecturer in Social Diversity and Health.

This research investigates issues affecting the mental health and social wellbeing of people at risk of marginalisation and social exclusion because of their sexual orientation, pattern of sexual behaviour, gender identity, cultural diversity, physical disabilities, or socio-economic status. Specific projects include:

• the issues for women in relationships with bisexual male partners in accessing health services, and their social, sexual and mental health negotiations;
• the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents who come from socially excluded families or marginal social locations;
• strategies for decreasing homophobia and its health impacts for young people in schools, families and small communities.

This research is undertaken in partnership with schools, youth workers, local councils; youth service departments, ALSO Foundation and support groups and with the Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC) Inc of which Maria is Secretary.