Question

1. One of the inequalities in health is neglected women in research; however, there are a number of justifications given for women’s exclusion. Name and explain three of this justifications. 2. There are psychological influences that might have importance for understanding the relationship between health outcomes and social class and ethnicity, stress is one of them. Briefly, explain this relationship.

Answer 1

Three justifications given for neglecting women in health-related research are:

1) Compared to men, women have lower economic status and therefore, research funding in men is greater than in women.

2) Women were excluded from clinical research for safety reasons.

3) Studies on women's contraceptives were questioned by ethics committess as it included risks of hormonal contraception, fetal exposure and sterility.

Psychological influences such as stress have importance for understanding the relationship between health outcomes and social class and ethnicity. Stress is basically a state of mental or emotional strain due to adverse or demanding circumstances. Stress has a direct relationship with the health of a person. Some common effects on health could be seen in the form of sweat, increased heart beats, increased blood pressure, etc.

Most of the societies today believe in competition and this rat race increases stress levels in a person. Failure to compete and perform is often seen as a matter to be ashamed of by society. Therefore, people struggle hard to live up to it. As a process they miss out on personal joys, face-to-face communications, recreations, etc. All these factors put together makes a person drain out.

Stress can take place due to certain sudden pressure points such as a terrorist attack or an earthquake. It can also take place due to higher demands from the society and lower decision making skills in the person. Chronic stress leads to headaches, cardiovascular diseases and general illness.

This relationship between stress and social class and ethnicity could also be positive. A society that believes in communication, inter-dependency and support are often seen to have fought stress more successfully than societies or ethnic groups who believe in extreme competition and individualism.