Mens and Womens Health Experiences - Assignment Example

Man and Health List 6 key social factors (give one sentence to explain each) which might help explain the differences in statistics between men’s and women’s health experiences. Generally, women live longer than men. On the other hand, there are significant differentiations between men and women regarding their health experiences. We could indicatively refer to a series of statistics published by Health in Australians (2007), like the following ones: “In 2000, life expectancy at birth was 76.6 years for Australian males and 82.1 years for females; in contrast, in the 1901-1910 period a male could expect to live 47.2 years and a female 58.8 years; these are increases in expected years of life of almost 30 years (60%) for males and of 23 years (40%) for females during the twentieth century”. On the other hand, it has been found in a relevant survey of 2003 that “of the male patients, 17.7% were under 15 years of age while only 12.6% of females were in this age group; male patients were less likely to be aged between 15 and 44 years (33.0%) compared to females (39.4%); however, male patients were more likely to be aged 45-74 years (38.3%) than females (35.3%)” (Male Consultations in General Practice in Australia, 2003). The above findings lead to the assumption that there are significant differentiations between men and women regarding their health experiences. It is necessary in this context to investigate the most significant social factors that have caused these differences. A primary reason for the existence of differentiation between men and women in relation with their health experiences is the level of obesity in these two groups, which presents different percentages. More specifically, in accordance with the statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006: referring to a National Survey conducted in 2004-2005): “when body mass index was calculated from reported height and weight, 62% of men and 45% of women were classified in the overweight or obese groups; however, only 32% of men and 37% of women assessed themselves as being overweight”. It can be assumed by the above findings that men tend to be overweight more than women and this issue can be related with their health problems mostly in the ages between 45 and 74 years (during which men in accordance with the statistics presented above present increased percentages of health problems). Another significant factor the differentiation between men and women regarding the health problems is alcohol. Regarding this issue it has been revealed in the National Survey of 2004-2005 that the percentage of men having consumed alcohol in the week prior to interview was 71%, a significant difference from the similar percentage of women which reached the 54%. Until now it has been proved by the empirical research that men present greater trends for obesity and alcohol consumption. These trends can influence the percentages of health problems appeared in men. Another important factor for the existence of differentiations between men and women regarding the health problems is smoking. In this context, the National Survey of 2004-2005 showed that “more men than women were current smokers (26% and 20% respectively) and for both men and women the prevalence of smoking was highest in the younger age groups (34% of men and 26% of women aged 18-34 years smoked)”. In this sector also, which constitutes a significant risk factor for the health, men present higher percentages. In all three ‘social sectors’, obesity, alcohol and smoking men keep a clear distance from women achieving very high percentages. On the other hand, the trends for exercise seem to be increased in men rather than women while women prefer to walk as the most ‘convenient’ type of exercise. In this sector, which is actually related with the healthy style of living, men are ‘ahead’ of women showing a clear preference for moderate or vigorous exercise instead of women who prefer to walk as already mentioned above. A significant issue regarding the differentiation between men and women is the high level of psychological distress observed in women (about 59%). The above figure revealed in the National Survey of Australia conducted in 2004-2005 proves that women have more chances to face severe health problems related with stress than men who are less likely to present stress-related health experiences. At the same time the survey published in Health in Australia (Chapter 6) reveals that men in the age of 25-54 “had an average of 5 health complaints at the time of the relationship breakdown”. These complaints referred to the following issues: “sleeplessness, physical injury, headaches, poor memory, stomach ulcers, reduced energy etc.” (Health in Australia, Ch. 6). In other words, men seem to be influenced more than women when facing a psychological pressure. In this context, the health experiences presented by men can be explained due to their ‘psychological weakness’ to handle the problems related with the unexpected changes in their lives presented through the form of unemployment, separation and divorce, hazardous occupation and so on. 2. Choose 2 of the following theoretical views: a Feminist perspective; Foucault; Parsons; Durkheim or Goffman and provide a one paragraph explanation on each of the 2 theorists you have chosen to explain how they would shed light on men’s different health experiences. One of most known works of Goffman has been the Presentation of Shelf. In the particular paper Goffman tries to explain a series of human reactions based on issues like the social environment, personal characteristics and so on. In accordance with the views including in this work every person is behaving in accordance with his/ her own personal characteristics which – if added – can constitute the Shelf. More specifically, in the above work it is noticed by Goffman (1956, 23) that “as part of personal front we may include: insignia of office or rank; clothing; sex, age, and racial characteristics; size and looks; posture; speech patterns; facial expressions; bodily gestures; and the like; some of these vehicles for conveying signs, such as racial characteristics, are relatively fixed and over a span of time do not vary for the individual from one situation to another”. All the above personal characteristics as described by Goffman constitute the ‘Personal Front’, i.e. a particular set of ‘attributes’ which represent a specific person. The view of Goffman regarding the health experiences of men can be ‘derived’ by the aspects presented in his paper. If taking into account the views of Goffman as stated in the “Presentation of Shelf’ men are different than women in terms that they present different ‘characteristics’ of ‘Personal Front’ as described above. In this context, their reactions to their health experiences will be formulated in accordance with this ‘set of attributes’ that constitute the ‘Personal Front’. The existence of ‘Personal Front’ can justify furthermore the existence of differences between men and women regarding their health experiences. On the other hand, in accordance with the views of Parsons stated in his work ‘Age and Sex in the Social Structure of the United States’, men and women can be regarded as being part of a specific system in which “different age and sex groups can be seen as the different elements of an organism” (Parsons, 1954). In accordance with this ‘social structure’ it could be considered that “in the job world, men and women in this society share an underlying structural equality”. However, the above views are based on the existence of differences between men and women regarding their role in the society. From this point of view the above paper should not be considered as promoting the ‘structural equality’ as Parsons claims. Moreover, in accordance with the view of Parsons, there are certain differentiations between men and women which have been resulted from “adolescent youth culture, where boys value things counter to adult male responsibility (like sport, booze, and girlies) and girls go for the glamour gal look”. In this context, women should choose to stay home and support men’s career – in which case as Parsons state there is the risk of developing a neurotic behaviour. Under these terms the differences in health experiences between men and women should be explained through their role in society. Indeed, if we take into consideration the fact that male patients represent the majority of patients in the ages 45-74 (where women represents the majority of patients in the ages 15-45) (National Survey in Australia, presenting in the beginning of this paper) it could be assumed that during the period that are dedicated to their work, men tend to develop less health experiences than women because they are ‘satisfied’ in their role. However, after this age, the existence of ‘equality’ between men and women becomes hard to be accepted and for this reason men (who are used to live under the terms of inequality regarding their role in society and this of women) tend to develop problems of health (women had passed this ‘phase’ during the ages 15-45 functioning in accordance with the social standards). References Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) available at http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/cac1a34167e36be3ca2568a900139364? Health of Australians (2007), available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/aus/ah02/ah02-c02.pdf Health in Australia, Chapter 6 “Gender and Health” Male Consultations in General Practice in Australia 1999-00 (2003) available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/gep/mcgpa99-00/mcgpa99-00.pdf Erving Goffman (1956) The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday, pp. 22-30, 70-76 Talcott Parsons (1954) Essays in Sociological Theory. Glencoe IL; Free Press, ch. 5 Read More