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Racialized legal status as a social determinant of health

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  • Asad, Asad L.
  • Clair, Matthew

Abstract

This article advances the concept of racialized legal status (RLS) as an overlooked dimension of social stratification with implications for racial/ethnic health disparities. We define RLS as a social position based on an ostensibly race-neutral legal classification that disproportionately impacts racial/ethnic minorities. To illustrate the implications of RLS for health and health disparities in the United States, we spotlight existing research on two cases: criminal status and immigration status. We offer a conceptual framework that outlines how RLS shapes disparities through (1) primary effects on those who hold a legal status and (2) spillover effects on racial/ethnic in-group members, regardless of these individuals' own legal status. Primary effects of RLS operate by marking an individual for material and symbolic exclusion. Spillover effects result from the vicarious experiences of those with social proximity to marked individuals, as well as the discredited meanings that RLS constructs around racial/ethnic group members. We conclude by suggesting multiple avenues for future research that considers RLS as a mechanism of social inequality with fundamental effects on health.

Suggested Citation

  • Asad, Asad L. & Clair, Matthew, 2018. "Racialized legal status as a social determinant of health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 19-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:199:y:2018:i:c:p:19-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.03.010
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    Cited by:

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    7. Morey, Brittany N. & García, San Juanita & Nieri, Tanya & Bruckner, Tim A. & Link, Bruce G., 2021. "Symbolic disempowerment and Donald Trump's 2016 presidential election: Mental health responses among Latinx and white populations," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    8. Marquez, Beatriz Aldana & Marquez-Velarde, Guadalupe & Eason, John M. & Aldana, Linda, 2021. "Pushing them to the edge: Suicide in immigrant detention centers as a product of organizational failure," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    9. Molly Dondero & Claire E. Altman, 2022. "State-Level Immigrant Policy Climates and Health Care Among U.S. Children of Immigrants," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(6), pages 2683-2708, December.
    10. Thoa V. Khuu, 2024. "Mapping Immigrant Health Trajectories: Investigating the Implications of Institutional Selection and Post-arrival Support Across Legal-Entry Pathways," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(1), pages 1-28, February.
    11. Jimenez, Anthony M., 2021. "The legal violence of care: Navigating the US health care system while undocumented and illegible," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    12. Óscar F. Gil-García & Nilüfer Akalin & Francesca Bové & Sarah Vener, 2024. "Understanding the Mobilities of Indigenous Migrant Youth across the Americas," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-20, January.
    13. Patrick Cloos & Elhadji Malick Ndao & Josephine Aho & Magalie Benoît & Amandine Fillol & Maria Munoz-Bertrand & Marie-Jo Ouimet & Jill Hanley & Valéry Ridde, 2020. "The negative self-perceived health of migrants with precarious status in Montreal, Canada: A cross-sectional study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, April.
    14. Robert M Rodriguez & Jesus R Torres & Jennifer Sun & Harrison Alter & Carolina Ornelas & Mayra Cruz & Leah Fraimow-Wong & Alexis Aleman & Luis M Lovato & Angela Wong & Breena Taira, 2019. "Declared impact of the US President’s statements and campaign statements on Latino populations’ perceptions of safety and emergency care access," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, October.
    15. Armenta, Amada & Sarabia, Heidy, 2020. "Receptionists, doctors, and social workers: Examining undocumented immigrant women's perceptions of health services," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    16. Monica C. Bell, 2021. "Next-Generation Policing Research: Three Propositions," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 35(4), pages 29-48, Fall.
    17. Brown, Calla R. & Shramko, Maura & Garcia-Huidobro, Diego & Miller, Kathleen K. & Brar, Pooja & Ogugua, Fredrick & Svetaz, Maria Veronica, 2020. "Increased rates of parental separation and anxiety among Latinx youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).

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