Medical Sociology Medical Sociology VIII Ethnicity, Racism

7/28/2019 Medical Sociology Medical Sociology VIII Ethnicity, Racism

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Gender inequalities

in health(Medical Sociology

VII)Dr A P Irungovel

M.A., M.S.W., M.Phil., Ph.D.,


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A P Irungovel, Ph.D.,

Recap

Thought about how health and illness arestructured by society

Considered the sick role, medicalisation,surveillance medicine and lay understandings ofhealth

Considered different explanations about theimpact of social class on health


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Outline

Consider the evidence for an associationbetween gender and health

Look at completing explanations

Biological

Social

Structural


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Gender Differences

Gender differences in health are often related tothe maxim:

Women get sicker but men die quicker

Some evidence of this, but complex picture


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Mortality Difference

In the UK, women generally life longer thanmen (National Statistics online)

Life expectancy

at birth:

by sex in the UK


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Health care usage

More women than men consult their GP NationalStatistics online

Consultations

with an NHS GP

by sex and age

2001/02

0

5

10

15

20

25

0-4 5-15 16-44 45-64 65-74 75 and over

Males

Females


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Limiting illness

Other statistics give a different picture National Statisticsonline

2001 CensusPeople inprivatehouseholds

with a long-termillness


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Gender differences

What do you think might account for thedifferent levels of gender differences in the 3

areas:

Mortality

Health care usageMorbidity


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Explaining

Gender Differences

There are 3 different groups of explanations:

Biological

Social Roles

Structural factors


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Social Roles

The construction of normative ideas aboutmasculinity and femininity has implications forhealth

Different risk behavioursAlcohol, smoking

Traffic Accidents major case of

young male death

Gendered work Occupational risks, domestic labour, unregulated markets


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Do you think women and mens lifestyles andwork can account for gendered differences?


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Social Roles

Gendered roles in reporting

Women and men are socialised to experience bodilysensations differently

Women say how they feel, men report physical sensations

Men may be more reluctant to seek medical advice


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Do you think there are gendered differences inthe experiences of bodily sensations?

If so, how might this impact on health?


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Structural factors

Material circumstances make a different tohealth outcomes

Differences between men and women Power and resources in the home can leave women

disadvantaged

Feminization of poverty Differences between women

Intersection with social class


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Summary

Considered the relationship between gender andhealth

Gendered roles and relationships have animportant impact on health

This intersects with other areas of socialdisadvantage


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Next week

Continue to consider health inequalities byfocusing on ethnicity

Look at explanations for ethnic differences andexperiences of health patterns

What impact does racism have?

Documents

Medical Sociology Medical Sociology VIII Ethnicity, Racism