Week Ten - Gender & Health

Question 1

What are the main problems of research on gender?

Answer 1

• May promote a stereotypical approach to men and women emphasising the differences between them instead of similarities
• It minimises any differences within men and within women and thus treats each gender as simple homogenous group
• It assumes that gender is a binary construct and gender fluidity is increasingly accepted in academia.

Question 2

In Australia, how many years do women live longer than men?

Answer 2

4 years

Question 3

How much more likely are men to die from accidents than women?

Answer 3

3.5 x

Question 4

What are the biological components that make up gender-based differences?

Answer 4

Resistance to infections
Sex hormones
Onset of coronary heart disease
Physiological response to stress

Question 5

What are the behavioural components that make up gender-based differences?

Answer 5

Alcohol use
Tobacco use
Eating habits
Exercise
Medical help seeking

Question 6

What are the economic and social components that make up gender-based differences?

Answer 6

Workforce participation
Women are more represented in part-time jobs
Social isolation - more frequent in women
- drivin
- widowhood

Question 7

What are the 2 common sayings about gender and health?

Answer 7

1) Women get ill but men die younger

2) Women get depressed but men commit suicide

Question 8

How much more likely are men to commit suicide?

Answer 8

4x - more common in older ages than adolescence

Question 9

What kinds of people are more likely to die earlier/commit suicide?

Answer 9

Marginalised eg. gay, migrants, ATSI

Question 10

Which gender responds more negatively to divorce and bereavement?

Answer 10

Men

Question 11

Difference between men and women in depression?

Answer 11

More women are diagnosed but many men are depressed however, delay seeking help.

Question 12

How was sexual behaviour regarded before the 19th century?

Answer 12

A religious or spiritual concern and guidance came from religious leaders

Question 13

How is sexual behaviour regarded during the 19th century?

Answer 13

Doctors and scientists studied sexuality and sexual behaviours in medicine. Behaviours linked to reproduction were seen as normal and those such as masturbation and homosexuality as abnormal

Question 14

What are some issues involved in sexual health?

Answer 14

Issues can have profound and long-lasting impacts on people’s lives, families and communities.

• contraception use
• unwanted pregnancy
• STI
• sexual dysfunction

Question 15

What percentage of US youth between 12-18 had access to pornography?

Answer 15

90%

Question 16

What is associated with viewing internet pornography?

Answer 16

Problematic sexual compulsivity (17% met criteria)

Become more at risk averse and bully, victimise or groom others

Can experience bullying, victimisation/perpetration and online sexual solicitation

Question 17

What is an example of unrealistic optimism?

Answer 17

‘I didn’t think it would ever happen to me’

Question 18

Why is child se abuse difficult to estimate?

Answer 18

Because it is often unreported and hard to gain ethical approval on such a sensitive topic.

Question 19

How many young boys/girls are victims of sexual abuse?

Answer 19

1 in 5 girls

1 in 20 boys

Question 20

At what age are most children vulnerable to sexual sexual abuse?

Answer 20

7 to 13 years

Question 21

A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse typically is at risk for developing what?

Answer 21

Low self-esteem
Feelings of worthlessness
An abnormal & distorted view of sex
May become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults
Can become suicidal

Question 22

Who are children typically sexually abused by?

Answer 22

3 out of 4 are victimised by someone they know well

Question 23

What kinds of living environments puts children at risk of sexual abuse

Answer 23

Children who do not live with both parents

Children living in homes marked by parental discord, divorce or domestic violence

Question 24

What is a major concern common among LGBTIQA+ people?

Answer 24

Fear of discrimination

Question 25

What were the findings on being labelled as gay/bisexual or US adolescent boys?

Answer 25

Steroid use was higher among heterosexual boys who reported being bullied due to being labelled gay/bisexual

Question 26

Why are LGBTIQA+ people less likely to seek medical help for STDs?

Answer 26

Due to the stigma - 1 in 5 withhold information regarding their sexual history from their healthcare provider

Question 27

Why is sexual health so difficult to measure?

Answer 27

Research is voluntary and this topic is sensitive (ie. stating gender)

Question 28

How does the interactive nature of sex pose a problem for researchers?

Answer 28

Only assessing one person from the couple only gives one side of the story

Question 29

What are the differences in Heart Disease in men and women?

Answer 29

Diseased arteries appear different in men and women

Women’s arteries erode - not easily identified and typically die
Men’s arteries explode - easily identified and treated

Question 30

What is the difference in reproductive hormones across the life span in men and women?

Answer 30

Testosterone does not run out until later in life - slow and symptom free

Estrogen begins to fade from midlife - experience symptoms

Question 31

What is the relationship between estrogen and brain functioning?

Answer 31

Estrogen is key for energy production. When it declines, we see natural ageing.

Menopause = 30% decrease in energy levels (however no difference in cognitive functioning