Adult learning and social justice: health, well-being and the inequalities of power

Health inequalities, and the poverty that drives them, are increasing in the UK (JRF, 2020). Research shows (Bambra and Payne, 2020: 266) that the poorer someone is, the less likely they are to live in good quality housing, have time and money for leisure activities, feel secure at home or work, be employed or afford to eat healthy food. So, although ill health may be experienced as a private trouble, it is embedded in broader social and political processes and should be seen instead as a public issue (Mills, 1959). This means that, as Marmot and colleagues (2020: 5) have pointed out, the health of the population is not just about how well the health service functions but is closely linked to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age and the resulting inequities in power, money and resources. These social determinants of health are also associated with feelings of lack of control over one’s life leading to greater levels of stress and anxiety at the individual level and lack of social cohesion and trust at the community level. On the other hand, to experience well-being means having sufficient resources, living in a vibrant community where cultural diversity is respected, being able to balance work and other important things in life, such as time with family and friends, and not feeling isolated and lonely....