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The conflict perspective views the body, health, and illness through the lens of power, inequality, and economic control. This approach argues that social and economic inequalities shape access to healthcare, medical treatment, and even definitions of health and illness. Powerful groups—such as pharmaceutical companies, private healthcare providers, and government institutions—control medical resources and influence health outcomes, often prioritizing profit over public well-being.
The Commodification of Health
From a conflict perspective, healthcare is largely viewed as a profit-driven industry where medical services, medications, and treatments are sold like any other commodity. The commodification of health refers to the process by which medical care becomes a product that is bought, sold, and controlled by institutions rather than being treated as a fundamental human right. Pharmaceutical companies, private hospitals, and insurance providers all operate within a system where profits often take priority over patient well-being. High drug prices, costly medical procedures, and insurance restrictions make access to healthcare unequal, benefiting those who can afford treatment while leaving low-income populations vulnerable. Medicalization—the redefining of life processes (e.g., aging, childbirth, mental health) as medical conditions—also plays a role in commodification by creating and/or expanding the market for treatments and medications.
The Body as a Site of Power and Exploitation
From a conflict perspective, the body is both regulated and exploited based on economic and political interests.
Examples include:
- The exploitation of low-income workers who are more likely to have physically demanding jobs and higher exposure to workplace hazards, placing them at a greater risk of bodily injury while simultaneously having limited access to healthcare benefits.
- Unrealistic beauty standards, which pressure individuals—especially women—to modify their bodies through cosmetic procedures, dieting, or excessive exercise.
- Laws regulating reproductive health, such as restrictions on abortion and birth control, which disproportionately impact low-income women who have fewer healthcare options and less financial flexibility to travel for services.
Bodies are also sites of social resistance, as individuals challenge mainstream ideals through body modifications, alternative fashion, or the rejection of traditional beauty standards.
Criticisms of the Conflict Perspective
While the conflict perspective effectively highlights healthcare inequalities, it can sometimes overlook the positive aspects of medical advancements and the role of healthcare professionals who genuinely strive to improve public health. Not all aspects of medical care are purely profit-driven—many treatments and public health initiatives are designed to benefit society.
