Status low

While it is often understood that poverty can cause harm by depriving people of decent, safe housing and good nutrition, there is less widespread understanding of the impact of social inequality on people’s health. 

Yet, across numerous studies, low social status – mostly measured by education, income, employment grade, or other indices – is proven to be associated with a variety of poor health outcomes. This includes heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, serious mental illness, and early mortality.  

Research on non-human primates by Duke University showed that low status can directly alter the immune system. A group of monkeys – all female, unrelated and unfamiliar with each other – were divided one by one into nine new groups of five.  

Social status was the only variable in the experiment; the newest member of each group nearly always ended up at the bottom of the social order, evidenced by her receiving less grooming and more harassment from the other monkeys. As a result of her place in the group, this monkey would become “chronically stressed”. A detailed analysis of the monkeys’ blood showed the impact of this on their immune systems. Elevated levels of inflammation in those stressed monkeys caused collateral damage to the body, increasing the risk of other diseases. 

The experience of being low status, feeling low status and being made to feel low status has a significant and detrimental effect on people’s lives and health.

The results of the experiment are “terrifically applicable to humans,” says Professor Graham Rook from University College London. Speaking to BBC News, he added: “Governments just don’t understand; they think people at the bottom have got cars, have got TVs, so compared with people in India they’re enormously wealthy. … But that really isn’t the point; they feel they are at the bottom of the heap.” 

The experience of being low status, feeling low status and being made to feel low status has a significant and detrimental effect on people’s lives and health. Research suggests that this can manifest physically via a lowered immune response, elevated blood pressure, affected hormones, impaired memory, and increased risk of depression, all of which can lead to a higher risk of early mortality in the long run. 

Our vendors often have first-hand experience of social inequality. John*, a vendor based in Manchester, describes the challenges he faces when it comes to others’ perceptions of him: “People need to stop tarring us with the same brush as other individuals. People think Big Issue North sellers are ‘spice heads’. I was outside a shop once and a shoplifter came running out and the staff accused me of being in cahoots with the shoplifter. We are human beings just like everyone else and we’re trying to survive – that’s it.” 

Challenging these perceptions and helping vendors to overcome feelings of low status is one of our focuses. It forms a large part of the work that we do: communicating our purpose and challenging opinions that can really damage people like our vendors. 

The pandemic exacerbated these feelings for some. Dave*, another Manchester-based vendor, explains that “with Covid, people thought, ‘Oh, he must be homeless so he is more likely to have it because homeless people can’t take care of themselves properly,’ but the statistics have proved that to be wrong.” 

Roma vendors are particularly susceptible to feelings of low status. Roma people are often subject to prejudice and distrust, based on negative stereotypes of criminality and ‘parasitic’ lifestyles. The Council of Europe (the leading human rights organisation on the continent) reported that there are “troublingly persistent” levels of discrimination against Gypsy, Roma, and Travellers (GRT). Roma people are commonly denied their rights to housing, employment, healthcare, and education across Europe, including in the UK. 

“I think people are looking at me and thinking if I am good or no good,” says Eugenia, a vendor who works in Ilkley, “[but] this is a good job. My husband also sells the magazine…We don’t have any benefits or anything, this is how we earn money.” 

Challenging these perceptions and helping vendors to overcome feelings of low status is one of our focuses. It forms a large part of the work that we do: communicating our purpose and challenging opinions that can really damage people like our vendors. 

Your support and custom are key to this. If you’re buying a magazine or even just passing by, a quick hello or short conversation can make all the difference to vendors’ mental wellbeing and feelings of adequacy. Having other people look out for them and treat them with respect can be truly life changing. 

*Some vendors names have been changed for anonymity.