gender equity Flashcards
what is gender equity?
equality focuses on creating the same starting line for everyone;
equity has the goal of providing everyone with the full range of opportunities and benefits – the same finish line
equity leads to equality
what is occupational segregation in healthcare?
division of jobs based on gender norms - women in caregiving roles, men in technical/higher-paying roles
what causes occupational segregation?
gender stereotypes, historical exclusion of women, and unequal care responsibilities
what impact does occupational segregation have?
women are clustered in lower-paid, low-status jobs with fewer leadership opportunities
what is ‘decent work’?
work that is safe, equitable, and free from discrimination or harassment
what are major challenges to decent work for women in healthcare?
sexual harassment, violence in remote/conflict zones, and lack of legal protections
what are the consequences of not ensuring decent work for women?
mental health issues, burnout, reduced workforce retention and productivity
what is the gender pay gap (GPG)?
the disparity in earnings between men and women in the same field or role
how much higher is the GPG in healthcare?
26% higher than the average across sectors
what are the causes of the GPG?
occupational segregation, part-time work, seniority bias, and discrimination
what are the consequences of the GPG?
lifetime economic disadvantage for women and global losses of $160 billion/year
what is the current state of gender representation in healthcare leadership?
women make up 70% of the workforce but only hold 25% of leadership roles
what barriers do women face in leadership?
stereotypes, harassment, structural bias, lack of promotion opportunities
how does underrepresentation affect healthcare systems?
skewed priorities, underfunding of women’s health issues, and slower progress on SDGs
what is intersectionality?
the overlapping of social identities (e.g., gender, race, class) creating unique experiences of discrimination
why is intersectionality important in addressing health inequality?
without it, solutions may ignore how multiple identities affect access and Tx
what is an example of intersectionality in healthcare?
a black lesbian woman may face both racial and gender-based discrimination in care
how does intersectionality affect violence against women and girls (VAWG)?
risk increases with other factors - e.g., women with disabilities are 2–4x more likely to face domestic violence
what are solutions to intersectional healthcare inequities?
cultural competence training, personalised care plans, diverse workforce, and anti-bias policies
what are health inequalities?
avoidable and unfair differences in health outcomes between different population groups
what causes health inequalities?
socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, geography, and education/employment levels
what are examples of health inequality?
black maternal mortality is 3x higher than white women’s in the U.S
what’s the difference between health inequality and workforce inequity?
health inequality affects patients; workforce inequity affects healthcare workers (e.g., pay, leadership, safety)
what are the impacts of health inequality?
shorter life expectancy, poor health outcomes, and a cycle of disadvantage
