GENDER AS A SOCIAL DETERMINANT OF HEALTH
The purpose of this report is to discuss the role of gender power dynamics in shaping the social determinants of health. Currently, men and women are not considered equal in economic, legal and social rights around the world. Women tend to be worse off and as a result suffer more and lead to poorer health than men. Taking measures to reduce and address these inequalities in health by emphasizing on Women’s rights is effective in ensuring that there is a shared allocation of health resources between both genders.
A developed country such as Canada still faces these problems and proves to be existent in all economies. According to the World Economic Forum, Canada now ranks 30th in an annual global ranking …show more content…
Impact of gender discrimination on health begins from the fetal stage with malnutrition in young pregnant women. The effects of malnutrition in babies and adolescence are devastating for girls. Girls who are malnourished from childhood are more likely to be malnourished as they grow into women, to enter their first pregnancy malnourished, and to give birth to underweight babies whose learning capacities are stunted from nutritional deficiencies, thus perpetuating the sequence of hunger and poor health. This effect is aggravated if the first pregnancy occurs for the duration of teenage years. Household food security, gender equity in access to food within households, gender-sensitive knowledge of nutrition and nutrition-related health practices and the child care that household members, both male and female, could provide, are crucial for overcoming childhood malnutrition, and ensuring that girls and women continue in the direction of be fairly and adequately …show more content…
Medical care suffers if medical professionals fail to treat patients with respect and dignity, they must openly address discrimination to the general public and in health settings, and also ensure quality health facilities, and information are available to both men and women. Everyone has the right to make fully informed decisions about their health.
It is essential that women have equal employment conditions through pay equity, personal growth in promotions and opportunities. This will lead to better health; open leadership opportunities and ability to have a strong stand on social norms. It will increase political participation and number of female health providers that will enable them to be strong catalysts and agents of change in household including the national and international level.
For example, the countries in the top 10 of global gender equality are closing the gender gap by promoting gender-neutral parental leave and post maternity work re-entry programs. In countries such as Rwanda, there are more women in leadership roles, with 30% representing in parliament and has a high percentage of women participation in the workforce and wage equality beating Canada in all fronts in respect to equality (Global News
The purpose of this report is to discuss the role of gender power dynamics in shaping the social determinants of health. Currently, men and women are not considered equal in economic, legal and social rights around the world. Women tend to be worse off and as a result suffer more and lead to poorer health than men. Taking measures to reduce and address these inequalities in health by emphasizing on Women’s rights is effective in ensuring that there is a shared allocation of health resources between both genders.
A developed country such as Canada still faces these problems and proves to be existent in all economies. According to the World Economic Forum, Canada now ranks 30th in an annual global ranking …show more content…
Impact of gender discrimination on health begins from the fetal stage with malnutrition in young pregnant women. The effects of malnutrition in babies and adolescence are devastating for girls. Girls who are malnourished from childhood are more likely to be malnourished as they grow into women, to enter their first pregnancy malnourished, and to give birth to underweight babies whose learning capacities are stunted from nutritional deficiencies, thus perpetuating the sequence of hunger and poor health. This effect is aggravated if the first pregnancy occurs for the duration of teenage years. Household food security, gender equity in access to food within households, gender-sensitive knowledge of nutrition and nutrition-related health practices and the child care that household members, both male and female, could provide, are crucial for overcoming childhood malnutrition, and ensuring that girls and women continue in the direction of be fairly and adequately …show more content…
Medical care suffers if medical professionals fail to treat patients with respect and dignity, they must openly address discrimination to the general public and in health settings, and also ensure quality health facilities, and information are available to both men and women. Everyone has the right to make fully informed decisions about their health.
It is essential that women have equal employment conditions through pay equity, personal growth in promotions and opportunities. This will lead to better health; open leadership opportunities and ability to have a strong stand on social norms. It will increase political participation and number of female health providers that will enable them to be strong catalysts and agents of change in household including the national and international level.
For example, the countries in the top 10 of global gender equality are closing the gender gap by promoting gender-neutral parental leave and post maternity work re-entry programs. In countries such as Rwanda, there are more women in leadership roles, with 30% representing in parliament and has a high percentage of women participation in the workforce and wage equality beating Canada in all fronts in respect to equality (Global News