Engendering Health Disparities

Abstract

How is gender implicated in our exploration of health disparities in Canada? Set against the backdrop of federal government policy, this review paper examines the ways in which gender intersects with other health determinants to produce disparate health outcomes. An overview of salient issues including the impact of gender roles, environmental exposures, gender violence, workplace hazards, economic disparities, the costs of poverty, social marginalization and racism, aging, health conditions, interactions with health services, and health behaviours are considered. This review suggests health is detrimentally affected by gender roles and statuses as they intersect with economic disparities, cultural, sexual, physical and historical marginalization as well as the strains of domestic and paid labour. These conditions result in an unfair health burden borne in particular by women whose access to health determinants is-in various degrees-limited. While progress has certainly been made on some fronts, the persistence of health disparities among diverse populations of women and men suggests a postponement of the vision of a just society with health for all that was articulated in the Federal Plan on Gender Equality. Commitment, creativity and collaboration from stakeholders ranging from various levels of government, communities, academics, non-governmental agencies and health professionals will be required to reduce and eliminate health disparities between and among all members of our society. MeSH terms: Gender; gender bias; inequalities; research; health behaviours; health services La traduction du résumé se trouve à la fin de l'article.

The progression of disability among older adults in Mexico

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An Ecological Systems Comparison Between Homeless Sexual Minority Youths and Homeless Heterosexual Youths

“…The heightened risks facing sexual minorities regarding mental health issues, substance use issues, and sexual risk behavior are three of the nine areas targeted by Healthy People 2010 for disparities elimination between sexual minorities and non-sexual minorities (Gay and Lesbian Medical Association and LGBT Health Experts, 2001; Sell & Becker, 2001). Likewise, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) created the Reducing Health Disparities Initiative to address health disparities among vulnerable populations including homeless individuals and sexual minorities (Beiser & Stewart, 2005; Spitzer, 2005). The health disparities listed for homeless Canadians include higher risk for premature death, infectious diseases, mental health issues, health disabilities, and substance abuse.…”

“…The health disparities listed for homeless Canadians include higher risk for premature death, infectious diseases, mental health issues, health disabilities, and substance abuse. Sexual minorities in Canada face similar challenges to those in the United States, such as health problems related to a history of abuse, addiction, survival sex, and victimization (Beiser & Stewart, 2005; Spitzer, 2005). …”

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“…The majority of people living in poverty are women, particularly single mothers and their children. Gender is a strong mediator in addition to many other determinants of health (Colman 2003; CIHR Institute of Gender and Health 2004; Spitzer 2005). The negative health outcomes due to the combination of gender and class for low‐income women are compounded, which becomes a triple jeopardy, when ethnicity/race is added (Raphael 2004).…”

“…Gender is a strong mediator in addition to many other determinants of health (Colman 2003; CIHR Institute of Gender and Health 2004; Spitzer 2005). The negative health outcomes due to the combination of gender and class for low‐income women are compounded, which becomes a triple jeopardy, when ethnicity/race is added (Raphael 2004). There is growing evidence that environmental burdens are disproportionately carried by women and children, low‐income communities, indigenous people and neighbourhoods of racial and ethnic minorities in North America (Bullard 1993; DiChiro 1997; Gay 1999; Colman 2003; Northridge et al 2003; Evans and Marcynyszyn 2004; NIEHS 2004).…”