Inequality and Health: Gender

Question 1

Define gender inequalities

Answer 1

• Gender inequalities = differences between men and women which systematically empower one group to the detriment of the other
• Can lead to inequities between men and women in health status and provision of appropriate health services
• Societies with high gender inequality are unhealthy for men & women

Question 2

What is the gender inequality index?

Answer 2

• Reproductive health measured by maternal mortality ratio and adolescent birth rates
• Empowerment measured by proportion of parliamentary seats occupied by females and proportion of adult females and males aged 25 years and older with at least some secondary education
• Economic status measured by labor market participation rate of female and male populations aged 15 years and older

Question 3

Men’s health…

Answer 3

• Men have higher rates of fatal illnesses
• Men have more toxic occupational exposure
• Men have higher rates of injuries (both intentional and non-intentional)

Question 4

Women’s health…

Answer 4

• Women live longer than men, an average of 5 years longer, but they tend to be “sicker” than men
• Longer life expectancy holds across ethnic groups and nations, but the gap is decreasing
• When social discrimination decreases, women’s life expectancy increases

Question 5

Health inequalities between men and women are likely to reflect?…

Answer 5

-biological sex differences and societal gender differences – and the interplay
Some possible contributors are:
Exposure to risk factors
Access to and understanding of information about disease management, prevention and control
Subjective experience of illness and its social significance
Attitudes towards the maintenance of one’s own health and that of other family members
Patterns of service use
Perceptions of quality of care

Question 6

Define sex

Answer 6

is defined biologically & physiologically
“Male” and “female” are sex categories
“Masculine” and “feminine” are gender categories

Question 7

Define sexual orientation

Answer 7

• a self-identified preference in sexual partner
• Does not map on to either sex or gender
• A person’s emotional, sexual, and/or relational attraction to others. Sexual orientation is usually classified as heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual (i.e., lesbian or gay)
• Identity
• Attraction
• Behavior

Question 8

Define MSM

Answer 8

An acronym used to identify men who have sex with men

Question 9

Define WSW

Answer 9

An acronym used to identify women who have sex with women

Question 10

Define gender identity

Answer 10

A person’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else

Question 11

Define gender expression

Answer 11

The manner in which a person represents or expresses their gender identity to others

Question 12

Define transgender

Answer 12

A person whose gender identity and/or expression is different from that typically associated with their assigned sex at birth

Question 13

Define FTM

Answer 13

A transgender man, who is someone assigned the female sex at birth but who identifies and lives as male

Question 14

Define MTF

Answer 14

A transgender woman, who is someone assigned the male sex at birth but who identifies and lives as female

Question 15

Define cis or cisgender

Answer 15

A person whose self-identity conforms with the gender that corresponds to their biological sex; not transgender.

Question 16

Draw the genderbread person

Answer 16

you got dis gorl keep going strong

Question 17

Define heterosexism

Answer 17

Value system that denies, denigrates and stigmatizes any non-heterosexual form of behavior, identity, relationship or community.
An “ism” like sexism or racism where one is considered better than others.
Pervades societal customs and institutions.
Creates misinformation and misconceptions.
Operates through a dual process of invisibility and attack.

Question 18

Define transphobia or transprejudice

Answer 18

• Fear, hatred or dislike of, or discrimination towards a person because that person is transgender.
• Negative valuing, stereotyping and discriminatory treatment of individuals based on the expression of their internal gender identity.
• Employment and heath care discrimination
• Issues for individuals transitioning gender on the job
• Lack of medical insurance coverage
• Lack of medical treatment

Question 19

Trans health and public accommodation and the law

Answer 19

Laws exist in various levels of government:
State
City
No federal law exists:
The Obama Administration released guidance that all trans* students in public schools should be allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity. Schools that don’t comply risk loosing federal funding