Diversions: How the Underrepresentation of Research on Advantaged Groups Leaves Explanations for Health Inequalities Incomplete

We identify a gap in health inequalities research that sociologists are particularly well situated to fill-an underrepresentation of research on the role advantaged groups play in creating inequalities. We name the process that creates the imbalance health-inequality diversions. We gathered evidence from awarded grants (349), major health-related data sets (7), research articles (324), and Healthy People policy recommendations. We assess whether the inequality-generating actions of advantaged groups are considered either directly by capturing their behaviors or indirectly by asking disadvantaged people about discrimination or exploitation from advantaged groups. We further assess whether there is a tendency to locate the problem in the person or group experiencing health inequalities. We find that diversions are prevalent across all steps of the research process. The diversion concept suggests new lines of sociological research to understand why diversions occur and how gaps in evidence concerning the role of the advantaged might be filled.

Automated summary

This study identifies a gap in health inequalities research that sociologists are well positioned to fill, particularly in the underrepresentation of research on the role advantaged groups play in creating inequalities. The concept of health-inequality diversions is introduced to describe the process that creates this imbalance, which is found to be prevalent across all steps of the research process. Further research is suggested to understand why diversions occur and how gaps in evidence concerning the role of the advantaged might be filled.