Health Essays Gender Health Disparities

wellness Essays grammatical sexuality Health Disparities handss Health hands Are far from being the Stronger Sex, they argon Actually the matedIntroduction Gender-based Health DisparitiesWhile the study of sexual urge in wellness has allowed for tre custodydous strides, there has been little benefit to advancing the understanding of custodys wellness (Habben, 2005). While the majority of amicable, political, legal, and religious systems favor work force, this favoritism has non served to rectify handss wellness status (Lantz, Fullerton Harshburger, 2001, p. 189). Generally, men suffer more life-threatening and inveterate illnesses such as sum of money and cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, certain tail endcers, and pulmonary emphysema (Lantz, Fullerton Harshburger, 2001, p. 189). Men have higher age-adjusted mortality rates for the 15 railsership ca affairs of death than do women (Williams 2003, p. 724). Furthermore, they have at least two clock higher death rates than women for suicide, homicide, accidents and cirrhosis of the liver (p. 724).The two track causes of death for men in the U.K. atomic number 18 circulatory disease (including heart disease and stroke) and cancer (NSO, 2004a). Numerous wellness statistics illustrate the growingd pic of men to certain illnesses. In 2001, al closely half of men were considered threatening comp bed to one-third of women (NSO, 2004b), men are twice as carely as women to exceed the daily benchmark for alcohol consumption (NSO 2004b), and life foretaste at birth is lower for antherals than for females at 75.7 vs. 80.4 years (NSO 2004c). In the joined States, men have a higher incidence of seven start of the ten most common infectious diseases, and three quarters of deaths from myocardial infarction occur in men (Courtenay, 2000, p. 1385). Cancer is a bloom example of the effects of male gender on wellness (Nicholas, 2000). Cancers of the larynx, oral cavity, pharynx, bladder , and liver occur highly disproportionately in men (Nicholas, 2000, p. 27). Further, men are more apparent to die from cancer than are women.biota vs. Gender SocializationDifferences in wellness between men and women are not merely biological, but alike entangle lifestyle differences and gender acculturation factors (Peate, 2004). Gender differences in health and longevity can be explained partly by health styles (Courtenay, 2000, p. 1386), and recent discussions of mens health have emphasize the importance of masculine gender parting socialization (e.g., Nicholas, 2000, p. 27). Mens concepts of maleness or masculinity guide their decisions almost accepted carriages. For example, risk-taking behaviors such as luxuriant alcohol or tobacco use are influenced by beliefs about masculinity (Nicholas, 2000, p. 28). The study of mens health goes beyond an emphasis on physiological structure and biological sex to implicate a broader analysis of social, cultural, and psychologica l issues pertaining to the traits, norms, stereotypes and roles associated with male gender (Brooks, 2001, p. 285). Men, in their quest to embody a good masculine role, whitethorn predispose themselves to psychological, emotional, and behavioral disorders (Brooks, 2001, p. 287).Gender whitethorn be defined as the expectations and behaviors that individuals learn about femininity and masculinity (Sabo, 2000, p. 133). Gender socialization influences health-risk behavior, mens perceptions of and use of their bodies, and their psychosocial adjustment to illness (Sabo, 2000, p. 133). While establishing his braveness or virility to others, a man who conforms rigidly to the masculine ideal by ignoring bruise and other illness symptoms is at increased risk of developing chronic diseases (Sabo, 2000, pp. 135-136).Beliefs about masculinity play a role in the health of men, and may lead them to engage in harmful behaviors or to give over from health-protective actions (Williams, 2003, p. 7 27). Male-like qualities such as individuality, autonomy, stoicism, and visible aggression, as well as dodging of showing emotion or displaying weakness may combine to lead to low-downer health in men (Williams, 2003, p. 726). In addition, gender roles can benefactor explain mens wavering to test health check care, their avoidance of expressing emotions, engagement in unsafe sexual behaviors, drug use, crime, and grievous sports (Lee Owens, 2002). Further, men may be more likely to identify themselves with their fix and to spend less clipping with family (Lee Owens, 2002).While men who are socialized to have more womanish attributes may be more likely to be aware of and come to about their health and health-compromising behaviors (Kaplan Marks, 1995), men who step outside the gender barrier may be perceived as deviant (Seymour-Smith, Wetherell Pheonix, 2002). Gender socialization may influence the extent to which boys adopt masculine behaviors. Boys are boost to play like other boys and discouraged from playing with or like girls. To do otherwise could lead to rejection. Parents often instill in boys that they are strong and that big boys dont cryideas which second form the boys personality. The masculinization at escape may make men have difficulty asking for aid (Peate, 2004). Society places great value on the stereotypical image of the male as strong and silent, contributing to the idea that men are strong (Fleming, Spiers, McElwee OGorman, 2001, p.337). While women value interdependence (e.g., consulting others and accepting help), men value license and avoid acknowledging a need for help (Lantz, Fullerton Harshburger, 2001, p. 190).Strict adherence to idealized masculinity may lead to a number of mental and physical health problems. This may be due not only to stark adherence to a rigid masculine role, but also to a sense of failure when men fail to live up to this role (Nicholas, 2000, p. 31). much(prenominal) failure may le ad to increased anxiety, psychological distress, suffering relationships, cardiovascular reactivity, anger, decreased self-esteem, and unwillingness to seek health work (p. 31).Risk-taking Men are more likely than women to engage in risky behaviors and to concord risky beliefs (Courtenay, McCreary Merighi 2002). They are more inclined than women to engage in behaviors that increase morbidity and mortality such as smoking and alcohol misdirect (Williams, 2003, p. 727). Men and boys are socially pressured to endorse gendered societal prescriptions such as beliefs that men are strong, independent, self-reliant, and tough (Courtenay, 2000, p. 1387).As a reflection of such gender stereotypes, men often exhibit risk-taking behaviors such as smoking, poor diet and exercise habits, drinking to excess, and overworking (Lantz et al., 2001, p. 191). While men tend to know less about health than women, they also perceive themselves as less vulnerable to illness than do women (Nicholas, 200 0, p. 29). As a result, men may be less aware of recommended screening and common symptoms of disease. much men than women smoke cigarettes and use excess alcohol. These behaviors often occur together, thereby increasing the incidence of oral and throat cancers (Nicholas, 2000, p. 28). Excess alcohol and tobacco use is a risk factor in 80% of cases of crack and neck cancers (p. 28).The causes of death that affect the most mencompared to womenare those most influenced by behavior or personal choice (e.g., suicide, homicide, accidents, and cirrhosis of the liver Habben, 2005). Alcohol and illegitimate drug plague are largely male problems in which the social reflexion of masculinity plays a significant role (Brooks, 2001, p. 290). Alcohol abuse is a major contributor to mortality from liver cirrhosis, accidents, suicide, and homicidethese being the intravenous feeding causes of death where men double the rate of women (Williams, 2003, p. 727). Further, men are more likely to bel ieve that high-risk behaviors will not impair their transaction (e.g., drinking and driving Williams, 2003, p. 727).Throughout life, men are at a higher risk of dying than are women. Lifestyle factors think to this include an increased likeliness of having accidents, having a dangerous occupation, and experiencing higher risks when at work (Peate, 2004). Men tend to underestimate the risks involved in physically dangerous activities and may feel that enduring physical punishment and pain are part of being male (Nicholas, 2000, p. 29). Men are more likely than women to work in hazardous occupations such as construction, agriculture, oil, transportation, and forestryoccupations that increase mens ikon to known carcinogens such as asbestos, benzene, chromium, and vinyl chloride (Nicholas, 2000, p. 28).In addition, risk-taking may include playing of dangerous sports (e.g., football or rugby), or engaging in high-risk sexual behavior. Taking risks confirms a mans masculinity to himsel f and to others. Further, gender is related to power, and the pursuit of power may lead men to engage in harmful behaviors (Courtenay, 2000, p. 1388). Behaviors such as refusing to take sick time kill from work, insisting that they need little sleep, and boasting that alcohol or drug use does not impair their driving serve to demonstrate the dominating norms of masculinity (Courtenay, 2000, p. 1389).Under-utilization of Health Care ServicesSince illness is seen as a threat to masculinity, men are less likely to seek help when ill (Fleming, et al., 2001, p. 337). This may be related to the male tendency to abate the expression of need and to minimize pain (Williams, 2003 p. 728). Men tend to strengthen social beliefs that they are less vulnerable than women, that their bodies are stronger than those of women, and that caring for ones health is feminine (Courtenay, 2000, p. 1389). In fact, utilization of health care and exhibiting positive health behaviors or beliefs are construct ed as part of idealized femininity, and must be resisted in the expression of masculinity (p. 1389). Mens reluctance to discuss personal concerns may extend into the patient- set upr relationship, where men may be less likely to amply report their health history and the exact details of their illness symptoms (Lantz, Fullerton Harshburger, 2001, p. 194).Men are less likely to engage in health behaviors such as inform symptoms, practicing health-promotion, and utilizing health care services (p. 189). Medical encounters also differ between male and female patients, with men receiving less time, less services, less information and advice, and less encouragement to change health behaviors (p. 728). Further, when men do receive care, they are less likely to adhere to their medical regimen (p. 728).The socially conditioned suppression of pain by men may lead to delayed help-seeking (Brownhill, Wilhelm, Barclay Parker, 2002). Gender socialization may be responsible for the fact that men value more concrete quite than abstract information (Lantz et al., 2001, p. 194). Thus, men may be more likely to ignore vague somatic symptoms and to wait for more concrete signs of disease, thereby delaying treatment until the more advanced stages of disease (p. 194). Often, when men seek care, their disease process is more advancedleading to higher morbidity and mortality (Lantz et al., 2001, p. 191). While women are more likely to seek care for symptoms, men generally seek medical care for employment or insurance reasons (p. 191). Delaying medical hindrance leads to a state of urgency once assistance is finally want (p. 191). In men, emotional distress in men may be masked by outward symptoms such as chest pain, talk over self-harm, drug or alcohol abuse (Brownhill et al., 2002).Further, men expect health care professionals to be able to read their signs and symptoms without themselves having to disclose anything (Brownhill, et al., 2002). Other reasons for mens relucta nce to seek health care may include a escape of understanding of making appointments, inconvenient opening hours, long waits for appointments, lack of trust, and attention of being judged. Men may feel social pressure to not reveal any weakness that may lessen their masculinity, and thus may not seek care. Solutions might include providing services that men can access anonymously (e.g., via the internet or telephone help-lines), and extending opening hours of services to include evenings and weekends.Conclusion Possible Solutions for improving Mens HealthHealth educators and advocates for mens health should encourage men to consider the effects of gender on health behaviors and outcomes (Sabo, 2000, p. 139). Health education for men should address enhancing mens awareness that some of the culturally supported masculinity norms can lead to health-damaging behaviors (Williams, 2003, p. 730). Williams suggests that the meaning of manhood ineluctably to be re-defined in a more positi ve way along with changes in cultural institutions and social structures, thus reinforcing positive health behaviors in men (Williams, 2003, p. 730). Modification of health behaviors may be one of the most effective ways of preventing disease (Courtenay, 2000, p. 1386).One solution could be to provide earlier socialization of boys and young men that health promoting behavior is positive, that reporting health concerns is not a sign of weakness, and that better health encourages a more positive self-image (Lantz, Fullerton Harshburger, 2001, p. 195). The development of the male gender role should tenseness less upon the roles of protector and provider, and should emphasize more greatly mens abilities as caregivers and nurturers (Brooks, 2001, p. 293). Such emphasis would enhance the presence of nurturance, attachment, and intimacy in the social construction of masculinity.ReferencesBrooks, G. 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