Women’s Health in Context: Gender Issues

These flashcards cover key concepts related to women's health and gender issues as discussed in the lecture notes.

Relations of ruling

Dorothy Smith’s term for the way social processes are structured by the powerful, shaping our consciousness and practices.

Women’s health movement

A collective term for various organizations and groups addressing women's health issues, including birth control and poverty.

Structural sexism

A framework for analyzing how gender-based inequality permeates social structures and affects health outcomes.

Ecosocial theory

A theory that explains how oppressive social relations determine individuals’ exposure to health risks.

Biological determinism

The belief that biological factors are the primary influences on health outcomes, often criticized for ignoring social contexts.

Materialist/Neo-Materialist explanation

Focuses on how access to resources and societal organization influence health disparities.

Psychosocial explanation

Examines how hierarchy and social exclusion impact health, emphasizing the role of community and social support.

Cis-gender

Individuals who identify with the sex category they were assigned at birth.

Intersectionality

The concept that various forms of social stratification, such as class, race, and gender, intersect to create unique experiences of disadvantage.

Gendered distribution of health and illness

The idea that social roles and norms related to gender influence health outcomes.

Chronic conditions

Long-term health issues that vary in prevalence between genders, often more common in women.

Life expectancy

The average period that a person is expected to live, currently higher for women than men in Canada.

Health disparities

Differences in health outcomes linked to various factors, including gender, socioeconomic status, and access to care.

Behavioral explanation

Attributes health inequalities to individuals' health behaviors without considering broader social contexts.

Agency

The capacity of individuals to act independently and make their own choices, impacting their health decisions.

Rural and northern communities

Areas where access to health services can be significantly limited, affecting women's health outcomes.

Prenatal care

Healthcare provided to women during pregnancy, which can affect maternal and infant health outcomes.

Mental health care utilization

The frequency with which individuals seek and receive mental health care, often varying by gender.

Chronic pain and fatigue

Health issues more commonly reported among women, potentially linked to social factors.

Social stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals based on social factors such as class, race, and gender.

Workplace hazards

Health risks faced by individuals in their employment due to unsafe working conditions.