How Do Gender, Sexuality, Culture, Class, & Ethnicity Shape Health & Wellbeing

Question 1

What does health agency refer to?

Answer 1

The capacity of individual humans to act independently & to make their own free choices

Question 2

What does social structure refer to?

Answer 2

Those factors such as social class, religion, gender, ethnicity, customs etc which seem to limit or influence the opportunities individuals have

Question 3

How are gender & health connected?

Answer 3

• impact of gender refers to the differences in health & well being between men & women as a result of their biology, social & psychological factors such as coping skills, self-concept, human agency, roles etc

Question 4

What are some examples where gender impacts health? (5)

Answer 4

• male foetuses/babies are more vulnerable to disease
• socially female foetuses/babies may not be valued
• many countries patriarchal - men more powerful
• patterns of health behaviour can differ between men & women
• safety of childbirth & women’s life expectancy is much greater in affluent countries than those in resource poor countries

Question 5

How do sexuality & health relate?

Answer 5

• majority of people are heterosexual & hence society presumes & privileges heterosexuality
• people who are not exclusively heterosexual may not be treated as well, given the same opportunities etc impacting their health

Question 6

How does sexuality impact health on a societal level?

Answer 6

• social & cultural norms & acceptance of sexual diversity - higher levels bullying, harassment, stigma, discrimination & homophobia
• high level of stigma = contributes to poorer health

Question 7

How does sexuality impact on a institutional level?

Answer 7

• government policy & laws shape how we respond - e.g. Same sex marriage debate, human rights legislation
• policy & guidelines in work places, universities, health settings also impact how people respond to sexual diversity

Question 8

What does GLBTI stand for?

Answer 8

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex

Question 9

How does sexuality impact on family/community responses?

Answer 9

• the family/community could accept or reject a member who is GLBTI

Question 10

How does sexuality impact the health of older people?

Answer 10

• services can struggle to support sexuality of heterosexual clients, often fail to recognise non-heterosexual sexualities
• cause a range of impacts from limited sexual expression to social isolation which can lead to negative physical & mental health

Question 11

How do classes influence health & wellbeing?

Answer 11

• classes are economic or cultural groupings in society (wealth, power, income, status)
• inequalities impact how people understand and respond to other peoples health

Question 12

How does culture influence health & wellbeing?

Answer 12

• culture refers to the construction of our way of life - shared values, traditions, histories, belief etc
• impacts on how we understand & respond to health & illness

Question 13

How does ethnicity influence health & wellbeing?

Answer 13

• ethnicity refers to our shared cultural background

- groups will experience social inclusion or exclusion in diff. ways