HAZARDS OF BEING FEMALE

Gender Inequality ==> Poor Reproductive and Mental Health

Gender Norms, Especially in Developing Countries

    Inequality in Power, Autonomy, Well-being
    Ignorance, Passivity, Lack of Control
    Internalized Norms of Inferiority
    Adverse Health Outcomes

Maternal Mortality and Morbidity

    Pregnancy-related Death
        
        North America: 1 in 3,700
        Africa: 1 in 16
        Asia: 1 in 65

        General Poverty
        Gender-related Issues (nutrition)

    Injuries and Disabilities

        Chronic Health Deficits ↔ Depression

Family Planning

    Avoids Various Risks of Death and Disability

    Gender-related Issues
        
        Neglect of Other Reproductive Health Needs
        Sterilization and Coercive Policies

    Contraception
        
        Lack of Information to Dispel Fears
        Lack of Confidentiality
        Ambivalence about Violating Cultural Norms
        Inability to pay

Abortion

    40% of Abortions Are Unsafe
    95% of Unsafe Abortions in Developing World
    80,000 Women Die Annually

    Gender-related Issues

        Poor Family Planning ==> Unsafe Abortions
        Poor Quality Services, Including Counseling

HIV/AIDS

    The “Triple Stigma” for Women
        
        Gender inequality
        Coping with the Disease (and transmission to kids)
        Discrimination

    70% Contracted through Heterosexual Sex
    
    Young Women 2-4 Times More Vulnerable than Men

    Gender-related Issues

        Socialized need for a relationship
        Submission to unsafe sex practices
        Poverty and the sex/labor trade

Violence

    33% Beaten, Raped, Emotionally Abused
    Sex and Labor Trafficking
    Genital Mutilation
    Honor Killings

    Consequences
        
        Physical

            Injury, Disability, Pain
            Unwanted Pregnancy
            STDs
            Addiction
            
        Psychological

            Depression and Suicide
            PTSD

International Conference on Population and Development & World Conference on Women

    Client-centered, Rights-based, Integrative Health Services
    
    Broad Range of Programs
        
        Gender Inequality
        Intimate Partner Violence
        Sex and Labor Trafficking
        Harmful Traditional Practices

DISCUSSION:

➢    As psychology students with cultural sensitivity and knowledge, what are your concerns about the following statement?

"Vigilance is required to ensure that WHO’s complete physical, mental and social well-being definition of reproductive health is reflected in the health reforms being undertaken in most developing countries" (Murphy, 2003, p. 209).

➢    What approaches can be taken to improve women’s health and lives that are less likely to be resisted (e.g., entrepreneurship)?