Gender and Health Terminologies

Subject: Community Health Nursing II

Overview

According to WHO, the term gender refers to the socially constructed qualities, duties, and obligations of men and women, boys and girls. Women and men have biological differences that are innate, universal, obvious, and generally permanent. Gender equity is a process that is fair to both men and women. Justice and fairness to both men and women based on their needs rather than gender preconceptions. Gender equality refers to women having the same life possibilities as males, including the opportunity to participate in public life. Gender discrimination is the practice of denying a person's rights or opportunities based on their gender.

Gender

According to WHO, the term gender refers to the socially constructed qualities, duties, and obligations of men and women, boys and girls.

Gender, according to the Pan American Health Organization in 1977, refers to the roles that men and women perform and the relationships that emerge from these roles, which are socially produced rather than biologically established.

Gender refers to how we are regarded and expected to think and act as women and men as a result of how society is organized, not to biological distinctions.

Gender is learned through socialization and the culture of the individual society in question.

Sex

Women and males have biological distinctions that are innate, universal, evident, and generally permanent. It is anything that can be described, taught, or changed. Chromosomes, visible and internal genitalia, hormonal states, and secondary sex traits all contribute to deciding whether a person is male or female.

"Gender is our biology, and everything is gender."

If you are aware that the difference is entirely biological, it is a sex difference.

 

Difference between sex and gender

Sex

 

Gender

 

It is biological

It is socially constructed

A human being is born with sex.

It drives the process of socialization.

It cannot be changed.

It can be changed over time and varies widely within and across cultures.

Sex is determined by genetic and anatomical characteristics.

Gender has acquired an identity that is learned.

Sex is fixed and based on nature.

Gender is like fluid and based in culture.

Gender Equity

Gender equity is the process of being fair to both men and women. Justice and fairness to both men and women based on their needs rather than gender preconceptions. Both men and women should be treated equally, with no inequities.

It signifies gender parity in life outcomes, recognizing their diverse needs and interests and necessitating a redistribution of power and resources.

There are inequitable variations in the levels of physical, physiological, social, and emotional well-being enjoyed by various social groups. Inequities, ethnicity, age, area, and sexual orientation were all defined.

Gender Equality

Gender equality refers to women having the same life possibilities as males, including the opportunity to participate in public life.

Men and women engage on an equal footing, have equal access to resources, and have equal opportunity to exert control over resources and decisions in the situation. Both men and women are free to develop their particular strengths and make their own decisions. Men and women's behaviors, desires, and wants are respected, considered, and favored equally. It does not imply that men and women should be treated equally, but their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities should not be based on their gender. It means that men and women have the same status, rights, and responsibilities.

Gender Discrimination

Gender discrimination is the practice of denying a person's rights or opportunities based on their gender.

Gender discrimination is defined as any differentiation, exclusion, or restriction based on socially imposed gender roles and norms that prohibits people from exercising their full human rights.

Gender discrimination, often known as sexual discrimination, is the practice of making a person's gender an unfavorable factor in determining who gets a job or other work advantages. It is most commonly experienced by women who believe they have been unfairly discriminated against in favor of a guy. However, there have been instances where males have alleged reverse discrimination. That is, women were given unfairly advantageous treatment at the expense of men.

REFERENCE

Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Healtrh Nursing-II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2011.

Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Health Nursing II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2012 (reprint).

Dr.Suwal S.N. & Tuitui R. (2063) A Textbook of Community Health Nursing, 1st edition, Vidyarthi Prakashan (P). Ltd. Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu

 

Tuitui, Roshani. Community Health Nursing. kathmandu: Vidyarthi Prakashan (P.) LTD., 2067.

Things to remember
  • According to WHO, the term gender refers to the socially constructed qualities, duties, and obligations of men and women, boys and girls.
  • Gender is learned through socialization and the culture of the individual society in question.
  • Everything in our biology is gendered. "If you knew that the difference is 100% biological, you would realize that it is a sex difference."
  • Gender equity is the process of being fair to both men and women. Justice and fairness to both men and women based on their needs rather than gender preconceptions.
  • Both men and women should be treated equally, with no inequities.
  • Gender equality refers to women having the same life opportunities as men, including the ability to participate in public life.
  • Men and women participate on an equal footing, have equal access to resources, and have equal opportunities to exert control over resources and decisions in the condition.
  • Gender discrimination is the practice of denying a person's rights or opportunities based on their gender.
  • Gender discrimination, also known as sexual discrimination, is the practice of making a person's gender an unfair factor in determining who gets a job or other employment benefits.
Questions and Answers

Terminologies

Gender

According to the WHO, the term "gender" is used to define the socially constructed traits, obligations, and duties of men and women, boys and girls.

Sex

Our biology determines our gender and sexuality. You would know that the difference is entirely biological and is therefore due to sex.

Gender Equity

The goal of gender equity is to treat both men and women fairly. Rather than skewed view based on gender stereotypes, there should be justice and fairness for both men and women according to their requirements.

Gender Equality

Gender equality refers to giving women the same opportunities as men, including the freedom to engage in public life.

Gender Discrimination 

Any differentiation, exclusion, or restriction made on socially imposed gender roles and norms that inhibits the people from exercising their full human rights is considered gender discrimination.

.

Difference between Sex and Gender

Sex

Gender

 

It is biological

It is socially constructed

Human being is born with sex.

It derives during the process of socialization.

It cannot be changed.

It can be changed over time and varies widely within and across cultures.

Sex is determined by genetic and anatomical characteristics.

Gender has acquired an identity that is learned.

Sex is fixed and based on nature.

Gender is like fluid and based in culture.

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