Sexual Health, Contraception, and Abortion Flashcards
what is the WHO’s working definition of sexual health?
Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.
How does Fischer argue that conjoining “sexual” with “health” changes both terms?
it alters how we conceive of sexuality, but it also transforms what it means to be healthy and prompts new expectations of what science and medicine can provide
what does it mean for something to become “medicalized”?
turned into an object of medical attention
what does it mean for health to be “sexualized”?
how health professionals increasingly are encourages and trained to address sexual matters, and how sexual issues have been incorporated into medical concerns in ways that change understandings of what it means to healthy or ill
what are 3 reasons why it is important to think about sexual health as a social phenomenon
- as a practical matter, sexual health or its absence touches on many people’s lives
- sexual health can potentially be pursued in many different ways – sex positive vs sex negative; what’s normal?
- sexual health projects affect different groups in society differently – race, ethnicity, social class, gender, etc – need to address everyone’s needs
List some examples of how sexuality and diseases were linked in 19/20th century UK and USA
- marital and sex advice manuals
- rise of sexology
- public health efforts to prevent STIs under the label of “social hygiene”
what was the sexual revolution in the 70s fuelled by, give an example
political, cultural, and technological developments – including the invention and mass marketing of new modes of contraception such as “the Pill” – had put sex on the agenda as an important and prized dimension of human experience
what social movements in the 70s foregrounded questions of sexual rights and freedoms around the globe?
second-wave feminism and gay rights movement
what was the key impetus that made sexual health “go viral” in the mid 1990s?
HIV/AIDS epidemic – moved sexual health into broader circulation
what are some goals of sexual health?
- containing the spread of STIs
- addressing failures of sexual functioning (including via new treatments such as Viagra)
- controlling population growth and promoting autonomy over reproductive decisions
- solving injustices linked to the lack of sexual rights
- containing threats of “irresponsible” sexual behaviour
- promoting sexual self-expression
how does compounding health with sexuality alleviate stigma?
it alleviates stigma that sexuality is dirty and messy
what are three key aspects of the investment in sexual health
- remaking medicine
- expanding expertise
- optimising the self
describe the disproportion between the amount of people that experience sexuality-related medical problems vs the amount of who seek medical attention
significant % of people around the world experience of sexuality-related medical problems, including sexual dysfunction, pain during intercourse, STIs, and issues to contraception; however few people seek medial care and even fewer have been asked about their sexual healthy by a doctor in routine visit
even thought there are new specialities in medicine that address sexual dysfunctions, why is it a challenge for people to access these resources?
most patients, the entry point into the medical system is their family doctor and these generalists may have little experience with sexual health issues or inclination to engage with their patients on such topics, a key barrier being limited success in educating physicians about sexuality during their training in med school
nowadays, describe the range of
people who get to make claims about how we should be sexually healthy?
nutritionists, massage therapists, practitioners of kink, to porn stars
how have sexual health experts use their credentials to mark their expertise and signal their accessibility?
accompany the credential with their first name, e.g. “Dr. Laura” Schelsssinger
besides individuals, who else can be authoritative voices on sexual health concerns?
community-based organisations
what are some examples of optimising the self within the realm of sexual wellness?
laser vaginal rejuvenation surgery which promises to enhance vaginal muscle tone and hence improve sexual gratification, penile enlargement (surgery, pumps, pills, creams, or exercises)
what is an issue with optimising the self?
links consumerism to broader aspirations for more satisfying sexual lives
under which part of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, did Justice Bertha Wilson found a right to abortion?
section 7’s right to life, liberty, and security of the person
In the Macfarlane article do they believe a criminal ban on abortion is likely in Canada?
no - anything like that is a remote possibility because of the set of important structural and political cultural factors mitigate the forces of american judicial polarization on the Canadian Court
how is section 7 of the Charter very powerful?
any laws that are overly broad in application or that result in harms disproportionate to their objectives cannot be supported if they conflict with section 7 rights
how does section 15 of the charter play a protective role?
equality rights - prevent unreasonable criminal law regulation of abortion but also reducing discriminatory barriers in the delivery of health care (e.g. if the province inadequately funds abortion, then it will be recognised as systemic discrimination)
how strong is the impact of the effects of partisanship and ideology on the appointments process
subtle and nuanced, lots of variability among justices too
