Diversity: Gender, ethnicity and class Flashcards
NHS Constitution and Equality
The NHS Constitution includes a ‘duty not to discriminate against patients or staff and to adhere to equal opportunities and equality and human rights legislation’
Sex and gender
‘“Sex” refers to the physical differences between people who are male, female, or intersex. A person typically has their sex assigned at birth based on physiological characteristics, including their genitalia and chromosome composition. This assigned sex is called a person’s “natal sex.”’
‘Gender, on the other hand, involves how a person identifies. Unlike natal sex, gender is not made up of binary forms. Instead, gender is a broad spectrum.’
Key terms
Transgender
We use “trans” as an umbrella term to describe people whose current gender identity or way of expressing their gender differs from the sex they were registered with at birth. Some, but not all, trans people want to transition (change) socially or medically or both.
Non-binary
Being non-binary means not feeling that your gender identity fits naturally into the generic categories of male and female.
Sex assigned or registered at birth
We use the phrase “sex assigned at birth” when we’re talking about trans health and gender dysphoria […].
Gender-neutral language
we word our content to avoid masculine and feminine pronouns (“he” or “she”). Instead we use “you” where appropriate and sometimes “they” when we need a gender- neutral pronoun (unless this is confusing).
Sexuality
We use language about sexuality when it’s helpful to signpost or help people get the health information and access to treatment they need.
For example, when we’re talking about specific sexual health services or sexual health content, we use words like:
lesbian gay bisexual
men who have sex with men (MSM includes men who may not identify as gay)
Ethnicity
Concept of ‘race’ does not have scientific validity
Ethnicity is the favoured term (i.e. not ‘race’) in health research
‘[M]ost commentators give credence to a
notion of ethnicity that reflects an identification with cultural traditions that provide (fluid) boundaries between groups’
‘cultural traditions are historically located and context dependent’
Ethnicity is dynamic and contextual
Ethnicity, health and material disadvantage
People from ethnic minority groups are more likely to face:
Poor job security, stressful working conditions, unsocial hours
racial discrimination and harassment
Place-based disadvantage
(e.g. living in poorly serviced
areas)
NS-SEC ‘National Statistics Socioeconomic Classification
! Measures employment relations
! Used in the research domain as a proxy for social class
! Differentiates occupations in terms of
reward mechanisms,
promotion prospects,
autonomy and job
security
Defining health inequity
Health inequity refers to avoidable differences in health between different groups of people. These widespread differences are the result of unfair systems that negatively affect people’s living conditions, access to healthcare, and overall health status.
Health inequity
The largest contributor to health inequity is socio-economic status
‘Our health is shaped by a complex interaction between many factors. These include the accessibility and quality of health and care services, individual behaviours and, most importantly, wider determinants such as housing and income. Health inequalities exist as a result of systematic variations in these factors across a population. Inequalities in these factors are inter-related.’
Mechanisms of health inequality Four models
Behavioural
Psychosocial
Materialist
Life-course
Summary of diversity lectures
! Importance of inclusive language in the clinic
!Health inequity refers to avoidable and unfair differences in health
!A wide range of practices, both at the individual level and the structural level, can promote inclusion and can improve health outcomes
!Gender, sexuality, ethnicity and class are all relevant to health outcomes
!People from minority groups can face discrimination in health settings, this can affect their health behaviour
