Framing inequalities through causal stories: a cross-case comparison and critical reflection

Despite being a central focus in research, policy, and practice in recent years, health inequalities have widened and are being further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The reasons are multiple and complex, but there is increasing concern that the framing of health inequalities may be contributing to implementation challenges. This is important because while the health sector is not alone in grappling with socially-driven inequalities in outcomes, there is a persistent desire to embed a 'health inequalities' perspective across all sectors and policies. The aim of this research is to employ theoretical and methodological tools from framing analysis to explore, compare, and critically reflect upon different ways in which inequalities in outcomes are framed across multiple sectors beyond health. These sectors include early years education, youth justice, and housing, and, for each, data will be collected through documentary analysis of academic literature and policy reports; semi-structured interviews with actors working to reduce inequalities; and group 'framing reflection' exercises. The research will produce novel comparative analyses, and interdisciplinary reflections, on contrasting ways of framing inequalities. These findings will illuminate the potential for more cross-sectoral accounts of inequalities that would lead to greater collective understanding and action on the cross-cutting underlying causes.