An Analysis of Gender Stereotyping in Health and Social Care Services

This essay delves into the inequalities within the health and social care sectors, focusing on the impact of gender stereotyping and medicalization on the provision of services to both men and women. It examines how societal beliefs and gender roles contribute to disparities in healthcare, influencing the treatment and experiences of female patients in particular. The essay discusses key terms like gender stereotyping, medicalization, and the influence of feminist and Marxist theories. It explores the differences in treatment, diagnosis, and care received by men and women, highlighting the effects of these disparities on women's mental and physical health. Furthermore, it addresses the implications of medicalization processes, such as those related to alcoholism, sleep disorders, and infertility, and their impact on women. The essay concludes that gender inequalities negatively affect women's health, emphasizing the need to address stereotyping and improve the standard of living for all. The essay uses references to support its arguments.

Introduction to Health and
Social Care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Key terms –......................................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
There have been many inequalities in health sector while providing services to males and
females. This is because of beliefs that prevails in society in terms of traits and characteristics
which is shared by a common group. it has resulted in creating differences in providing health
care services to women. The information that is shared by society is based some facts and
figures. Medicalization is a process that is through which health issues and problems are
determined and treatment is given to them (Humphries, 2015). In recent time there has been
difference in way through which people are treated and care is provided. feminists are supporting
that Gender stereotyping and change in medicalisation has negatively affected their behaviour.
Many females said that their health is highly impacted due to improper services. The essay will
provide brief overview about arguments given by women in terms of gender stereotyping. The
aim is to discuss about what are the factors or reasons behind improper providing of health care.
The essay will throw light on comparison between men and women life.
Key terms –
Gender stereotyping, Medicalisation, biologically, femininity and masculinity, Marxism and
Feminism, menopause, pathological, alcoholism, sleep disorder, infertility.
MAIN BODY
It is very important to provide equal health care facilities to both men and women. It will
help in rising the living standard and growth of society. Women are also having equal right to
access all facilities for their growth (Cameron and et.al., 2014). There are many theories that
shows how and why society influences gender inequalities. The men and women behavior can be
identified by femininity and masculinity. It can be seen as historical structure through which
gender division are made.
For a society, women are main providers of education and health care to children. In this context
Marxism and Feminism theory can be applied. Here, feminists argue that society disadvantages
women by constraining them and limiting their opportunities. there exist several disparities
among health care providers. It has been identified that female patients are less likely to receive
more aggressive analgesics than men.
There are numerous differences in men and women where some are captured in
stereotypical images (Kent and et.al., 2018). Conventional of thinking of men and women is
shared and is equivalent. However, differences lead to problem in defining expectation and
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existing differences of gender on the basis of treatment of society (Redmond, 2017). In
accordance with this, it can be said that cognitive and motivational functions of masculinity and
femininity orthodox helps in determining differences in two gender on the basis of their beliefs,
perception and communication. It is important to have critical knowledge over conventional
beliefs in order to eliminate discrimination and to make fair judgement for men and women in
different situations. Gender stereotyping in health care is been considered as major problem. Due
to this, there has been a many issue occurred in providing care facilities. In many cases nurses,
professionals, etc. plays vital role in giving treatment. Social and culture factors have led to
differences between roles of men and women. It has influenced on their behavior. by comparing
the results, it can be determined that social beliefs have increased the gap. Feminists thinks that
still there are improvements needed in health care sector. In the past certain basis were created
by society that differentiated men and women roles. This impacted women health more as
compared to men. for example, a situation can be taken in which both men and women are
suffering from pain. In this woman will feel more pain and exaggerate as compared to men. this
is because of hormones, flexibility, body structure, etc. that enable men to feel less pain. Thus,
pain can affect in mental condition of women more adversely (Brett and et.al., 2014).
Furthermore, there is high risk in involved in dealing with women. it has been analyzed that role
of men are able to take decision more quickly and effectively as compared to women. they think
in positive way and act immediately. There must be right number of skills and values to work in
health sector.
Feminist feel that women are having more social responsibility in life. It is because they
play various roles in each phase of life. Due to improper care services women has to suffer a lot.
It either impact on mental health that can further lead to major consequences. Gender
stereotyping is related to entire sector or society. So, it can impact on overall feminist
community prevailing in society. This will also create a negative impact on future generation. In
addition men’s health will be affected as well. The overall society living standard will fall down.
Likewise, female physicians are mistaken for nurses and often approached to perform the
duties of a nurse. Sometimes their opinion is even discredited because they are female physicians
and not male physicians (Roberts and Chapman, 2017). Many women take break in career to
raise their children. This reflects their low socio economic status as compared to men. It
particularly impact on single women. it clearly explains difference in inequality among health.
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Women’s role as carers has been justified as a result of their reproductive function (Baldwin,
2016). However, while this is determined by biology, the way it is understood is socially
constructed and can affect their experience of health.
Medialization can lead to both positive or negative effect. It has been found that a greater
understanding is required of human body and brains to provide effective care. The negative
impact is due to biological differences between men and women in social terms legal
implications can be implemented. Some examples of medialization are alcoholism, sleep
disorder, infertility, etc. these causes has created a long term impact on health of women. they
are not able to eat healthy diet. another problem is numerous concerns related to social beliefs
that restrict women to get proper care services.
In UK the women experience major things in process of child birth or menopause. These
processes are natural and if not given in proper way it can impact on their mental health to a
great extent. Due to innovation of advance technology in health care, medialization process has
modified. there has been use of machines and equipment’s in providing care to women.
Furthermore, there are many challenges faced biologically by doctors in giving treatment. Due to
complex body structure of women it has been difficult to give equal care. Women in general
make an average of 4.6 doctor visits per year. Their normal bodily stages and functions not only
are medicalized.
The medialization of women is ironic because women are served as society healers, the
role played by them is combined with wisdom. in historic time the way of treating a women was
different. Moreover, women functions differ from men and are inherently pathological. In old
times women were not handled properly from birth (Abel-Smith, 2016). They were given poor
quality of care. Therefor, it has resulted in creating bad impact on their mental health. Earlier
there was a lot of social differences between male and female. Male were considered as superior
in family. Many women were in favor that due to improper care there has been negative impact
on their health. This is the main reason why females are still not getting equal care. A negative
thinking is developed among them regarding care. It has led to impact on children of next
generation.
Besides this, community is not providing any support to them to overcome mental illness.
From above it can be stated that gender stereotyping is reason why health and social care
are not properly provided to equally to both men and women. due to this the standard of living in
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many societies as not increased (Gradinger and et.al., 2015). Moreover, the values and ethics
possessed by men and women varies due to social differences. It has restricted women to get
proper care facilities. The roles played by them reflects their beliefs and attitude towards society.
CONCLUSION
As per the report it is concluded that there is negative impact on health of women due to
gender inequalities. But gender stereotyping and medialisation is cause of problem. Social and
culture factors have led to differences between roles of men and women. It has influenced on
their behavior. Medialization can lead to both positive or negative effect. The positive impact is
it can lead to improvement in their lifestyle. On other hand negative impact is biological
differences in social terms legal implications can be implemented. Due to both factors entire
community can be affected.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Abel-Smith, B., 2016. An introduction to health: policy, planning and financing. Routledge.
Baldwin, M., 2016. Social work, critical reflection and the learning organization.
Routledge.
Brett, J. and et.al., 2014. Mapping the impact of patient and public involvement on health
and social care research: a systematic review. Health Expectations, 17(5), pp.637-650.
Cameron, A. and et.al., 2014. Factors that promote and hinder joint and integrated working
between health and social care services: a review of research literature. Health & social care in
the community, 22(3), pp.225-233.
Gradinger, F. and et.al., 2015. Values associated with public involvement in health and
social care research: a narrative review. Health Expectations, 18(5), pp.661-675.
Humphries, R., 2015. Integrated health and social care in England–progress and
prospects. Health Policy, 119(7), pp.856-859.
Kent, M. and et.al., 2018. Introduction: Why manifestos, why now?. In Manifestos for the
Future of Critical Disability Studies (pp. 1-8). Routledge.
Redmond, B., 2017. Reflection in action: Developing reflective practice in health and social
services. Routledge.
Roberts, K. and Chapman, T., 2017. Realising participation: elderly people as active users
of health and social care. Routledge.
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