Topic 7: gender + health Flashcards
Define sex
- Biological differences between men/women
Define gender
- Identity constructed by men/women based on how they act/behave/think in society
- Social + cultural + psychological differences between men/women
Describe men’s traditional roles
- Power
- Independence
- Ruling/controlling
- Large spaces
- Family image
- Representing home
Describe women’s traditional role
- Vulnerability
- Dependence
- Obeying
- Raising children
- Small spaces
- Female relations
Give traditional male activities
- Hard powerful jobs
- Working in fields = going out
- May be violent towards wife + children
- Voting
- Smoking/drinking
Give traditional female activities
- House keeping + raising children
- Going outside restricted OR with male
- Obey husband + not react to violence
- Voting prohibited until early 20th century
- Smoking/drinking stigmatized
How much gender segregation has changed?
- Exponential change BUT still activities considered socially more male/female
- E.g. Jobs/managerial positions + university subjects + politics
- Gender has been socially constructed
Explain how women have less equal opportunities in modern society
- Less likely to participate in decision-making
- More likely to be single mothers
- Eductaed + employed as much as men
- Gender gap of 17%
- Low status of their work = underestimated
- Multiple demanding roles in society = mother + housewife + employee
Describe association between gender + health on life expectancy over time
- Women live longer than men = innate biological advantage BUT not always case
- 16th/17th century = male advantage = women more vulnerable to infection + dying at delivery
- 19th century = similar life expectancy
- Second half of 19th century = advantage for women = infection managed + medicine provided safer birth environments
- 2007 = men 77 years + women 81 years
- Current in UK = men 79 + women 82
Describe association between gender + health on mortality
- Start 20th century = men + women both dies from infection + respiratory disease
- Infections declined over time = death now due to CVD + cancer + respiratory diseases
- Men = more often from CVD + lung cancer
- Men = more often in car accidents
- Women = more likely to attempt suicide BUT men = more likely to commit
Describe association between gender + health on morbidity
- Men more likely than women of same age to suffer CVD = coronary heart disease + lung cancer
- Women more likely to suffer Alzheimers
Describe association between gender + health on mental illness
1) Disorder of thoughts =
- Psychosis
- Gender neutral
2) Disorder of emotion =
- Depression + anxiety + phobias
- Women more likely
3) Disorder of behavior =
- BPD + alcohol/drug abuse
- Men more likely
Explain why there is gender difference in mortality
- Due to biological + social reasons
- Impact of life style = 21% male + 13% female deaths = smoking
MEN: - Do dangerous jobs = constructions + mining + oil rig
- More likely to undertake dangerous activities = racing + rock-climbing + criminal activity
- Majority of people killed in car accidents
- Less likely than women to regard chronic symptoms and seek help early
Explain why there is gender difference in morbidity
- Women report symptoms + consult more often
- Men likely to suffer CVD + lung cancer = lifestyle of smoking + alcohol
- Women suffer from Alzheimers = biological reasons + poor cognitive reserve + lack of exercise
Describe masculinity as an influential factor
- Masculinity = force for risky behavior
- It is men’s social identity
- Hegemonic masculinity = most influential = linked with authority + paid work + physical strength + heterosexuality
- To achieve hegemonic = involved in dangerous activities + tough male habits e.g. smoking/heavy alcohol
- Men believe health is women’s job = don’t behave in ways people will perceive them feminine
- They are socialized with masculinity = 2nd nature
