Ahliyah Williams

Dr. Hinks 

05/29/19

Help Received: References Ahliyah W. 

Artifact 4: The Gap that needs to be closed, the Gender Health Gap.

The gender health gap. There are many disparities in health, especially shown in men and women. The amount of medical attention, treatment, and even general knowledge of health care are factors that show an obvious distinction between men and women. It was thought for many years that men and women experienced the same health concerns. Imagine only studying males for medical treatment to solve disease, but that medicine only helps men. That’s how it was for so long until just recently in 2014. Culture is a factor of the gender health gap because it is based around traditions and beliefs that may obstruct females and men from even learning about health or practicing good health. Also in some cultures, women are seen as dirty and not valuable enough, which effects there a concern about their own health.

Why do men and women receive different treatments in health? One question that definitely needs to be answered. One may think with the multitude of things that a female has to go through medically, like childbirth and the menstrual cycle, shouldn’t she would receive more medical treatment? Why men and women receive different treatments in health has a lot to do with race differences and how much money one makes. For example, the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment wherein summary, African American men were involved in a study that told them that they were being treated for their disease. In reality, these men were not being treated, but yet being tested to see the effects of the body when not being treated. This shows the vulnerability of African Americans in the health gap. With this, it is relevant that Blacks may not have a strong trust in doctors because of that. Also, poverty has a lot to do with the health gap. If minorities such as Hispanics and blacks are not able to afford healthcare. Medical insurance such as Medicare is offered to people who can not afford health care, but it does not cover many things like, dental care and prescription drugs.  

What’s the problem with men receiving more health care than men? Well, women typically live longer than men. What does that tell you? This gender health gap may very well be an industry or a business. If women are significantly treated less than men, but they are still living longer, women will be paying more and more for healthcare that they still are not receiving. This will happen especially as women are getting older, obviously, they need more healthcare. In an article by Kaiser Health News, it is said that women will save more money for insurance, so much more than its $35,000 more in order to cover their hefty medical bills. The gender health gap is not just a coincidence, it is a money making business. Gender masculinity is also an issue for men. Even though women receive less health care, men receive minimal health care simply because they feel too manly to get their body checked up. Because of toxic masculinity, some men may feel like even if experiencing pain, they will just “take it like a man” and suck it up. Well taking it like a man and not helping an issue leads a small problem into much larger problems.

Cultural differences are a huge factor in the gender health gap. In Iraq, women do everything through their husband. Women are not allowed to make their own decisions regarding sex and even the choices that they may wish to do with their bodies. Being a woman in Iraq is hard because when a baby girl is born, she is seen as unimportant or irrelevant in contrast to a boy that could turn into a hardworking man. Women wouldn’t even be able to learn about their bodies if they wanted to. This is all because of strict traditions in the culture of Iraq. In contrast places such as America, in general, women have much more rights over their bodies than other places. Even though we may feel less fortunate the women of America have more freedom and rights than most other countries such as Iraq or Africa. Also, Americans have so much access to education to learn about their bodies. In most schools, it is mandatory to learn about your body. 

In conclusion, the difference between how much medical treatment or knowledge of health is present in gender especially, but also race and the amount of money that one makes. All in all, Americans are more open to learning about their bodies which makes a major difference in the amount of health that different cultures have. The fact that men and women are receiving different health care based on different factors such as toxic masculinity shows just how far gone we have gone into gender norms and stereotypes that people will risk their health based on their pride.

References

Paul J. Fleming and Joseph G. L. Lee. “Real Men Don’t”: Constructions of Masculinity and Inadvertent Harm in Public Health Interventions. PMC.

KHN Morning Briefing. (2016) For Women, Living Longer Means $35,000 More In Medical Costs Than Men. Kaiser Health News.

NCBI. Understanding Racial and Ethnic Differences in Health in Late Life: A Research Agenda. The National Academies.

Gender Disparities. Wikipedia.