Australian supermodel Nicole Trunfio and her son Zion, posing for their Elle Magazine cover promoting breastfeeding
In this weeks lecture I was reminded of biology in high school when I learnt that the male sperm determines the overall sex for an individual. The misconception that females decide the sex of the baby has been passed on for hundreds of years. This has been seen well before 1500s, King Henry VIII of England was famously known for his marriage to six women and the beheading of his wife Queen consort Anne Boleyn . It is believed that one of the major reasons to her beheading was her failure to produce a male heir. In many of the African countries married men give themselves the option to marry another women or be with another just purely to produce a boy baby. Some religions like Buddhism believe that having a son means a fast way ticket to heaven. In India, girls are seen as a burden, due to the tradition of paying off the grooms family during the wedding. In China the one child policy has left many parent choosing the sex of their baby and in most cases parents choose a boy baby. In the Chinese culture only sons can carry down the family name and legacy, as such boys are seen more of a valuable asset to the family then girls. This has resulted in a skewed sex ratio of 118.9 boys :100 girls. Such a skew in ratio causes numerous social and political issues.
Throughout time girls have always been told to act like a lady. A lady is meant to be quiet, obedient, knows how to cook and clean, cares for the child/ren, never farts, doesn’t say no, her hair always looks good, wears enough make up but not too much otherwise she’s fake, has the perfect body and gets everything done on time. Our society has always socially constructed gender and what it is to be a women and man. The moment we are born society allocates us a gender which is considered the norm and we are expected to follow the rules and guidelines of that gender our whole life. Anyone who chooses anything different is considered the ‘other’ and in most cases discriminated against. Being on Instagram I have come a cross an Australian supermodel who lives in the US and has been campaigning for breastfeeding in public. I found this very interesting because most of the time celebrities don’t go against the norm otherwise they’ll lose their fans and followers. However Nicole Trunfio stood her ground and campaigned for something is believes in not just following the norms of society. In pop culture, breasts are fine if they are being sexually objectified however something as natural as breastfeeding is such a controversial topic when done in public.
Australian supermodel Nicole Trunfio and her son Zion, posing for Harper Bazaar magazine promoting breastfeeding
On the topic of gender and what it means to be a lady, I have come across a number of 'Gender Reveal' YouTube videos. These types of videos have been a big thing in the YouTube world and they get millions of views from people around the world. The whole point is to reveal the gender of the expected baby, for a baby girl its the traditional pink and for a baby boy its the traditional blue. What I have found interesting is that a number of parents say they don't mind what the sex of their baby is as long as the baby is healthy, however get overly excited when its a boy. Below are just a few videos that showcase this trend.
Video 1: YouTube "Gender Revel' Video 2: YouTube 'Gender Reveal'
~ REFLECTION 2~ WEEK THREE : WOMEN IN POPULAR CULTURE
The lecture content on women in the media and popular culture really grabbed my attention. The perception of the female body has changed and evolved over time. During the earlier medieval time, medieval medical practitioners believed the “distinctly female organ” However, recently there has been an increasing cultural shift towards sexually permissive attitudes and a greater representation of sex and the female body. The female body has been objectified and sexualised by men for the longest time. Females are told through the media and most recently social media that in order to be ‘beautiful’ you must dress, look and be a certain way. Objectification of females and their body in the form of media causes a number of mental health issues for example depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body dysmorphic and low self-esteem.
Photograph 1: Nicki Minaj (American rapper) filming for her music video 'Do You Mind'
Photograph 2: Nicki Minaj (American rapper) in the filming process of her music video "Anaconda'
The much anticipated 2015 super bowl commercial left was very controversial and was successful in generating 114.4 million views and shares during the super bowl game. Throughout the advertisement, a series of carefully placed objects were used to create an image that the model was walking naked whilst eating a burger from the fast food chain. As well as this, the men all gazed at her whilst she walked through the supermarket. In numerous occasions, the terms “all natural” was said to symbolise the burger as it has no antibiotics.
Video 1: The much anticipated super bowl commercial- 2015
I think it’s really hard being a female nowadays, simply because you can’t be yourself or you will get judged by ‘everyone’. There are so many pressures and societal expectations that we as females have to deal and keep up with. We have to keep up with the latest trends for example one of the most recent make up trends is having your ‘eyebrows one fleek’ and ‘contour and highlight’. This simply means that your eyebrows have to look perfect 24/7. Many makeup artiest say that contouring and highlighting is the new form of cosmetic surgery at a relatively cheaper price. This makeup method ‘helps’ people to have the nose shape they’ve always wanted, the fuller lips, the perfect cheek bones and the bronzed look. There are many debates in the make up community as to started this make up trend, many believe the famous Kim Kardashian was the first to rock to look. In my opinion, what matters is that there are millions of young girls who spend so much money to buy these makeup products to make you look a certain why just to fit in with society and be considered apart of the latest trend in fashion/makeup. The problem arises for those who want to be a part of this trend simply to fit in and cannot afford to purchase these products.
Photograph 3: The latest trends in makeup 'Lip contouring'
~ REFLECTION 3 ~
WEEK FOUR: THE ‘RIGHT’ TIME TO HAVE A CHILD
The lecture content for this week of 'the right time to have a child' I found very interesting as it was a topic I could heavily relate to. The topic of abortion is a very controversial topic that many people don’t necessarily like discussing as they are either for or against the idea. Throughout time there has been mixed emotions about whether abortion is considered murder. Most of these mixed views were invented by churches and philosophers. Having the chance to get an abortion should be a choice that every woman around the world is allowed to make.
In our society today, there are strict rules and values surrounding females and their bodies. Since the beginning of time females have always been given a ‘manual’ to follow. If they are breastfeeding their child for over a year its ‘too long’ and the child is too old, if they choose to go back to work early and place their child on formula its ‘inconsiderate’ of the mother. I think there has defiantly been a cultural shift by society in what to expect as a mother.
Today, women control when to have babies, with whom, how many children they want to have and the gap in age between each child. Although since the 1990’s liberation and the changed views child bearing and women having the choice of when to return to work. However, this has not been the case for all women around the world.
There are still many millions of child brides every year, women who don’t have a choice in the number of children they have, women who don’t have the chance to go back to school/work after they deliver their child. A very large number of these women are in less developed and developing countries.
In many of the developing countries, childbirth is seen as a life or death situation as women in these countries a count for 99% of maternal mortality. Much of the problem is having limited resources, lack of access to quality care before during and after childbirth and having trained and skilled midwives and nurses. Below is a video I found on maternal mortality in Somalia. It states that every day every 90 seconds a mother dies giving birth. Just putting into that perspective i found that pretty confronting and really saddening as these maternal death are from preventable causes. Somalia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world (1 in 12). Just by training 1000 midwives 3/4 woman will be saved who could have died from preventable causes Somali-land .
Video 1: Maternal Mortality Awareness Campaign
One of the quotes from the lecture content that has stuck in my head is ‘To prevent maternal death, it is important to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
~ REFLECTION 4 ~
WEEK FIVE: CHANGING GENDER ROLES IN FAMILIES
This week’s content was on gender roles, paid work, house work and child-raising. I found this topic intriguing as it is something that I have been thinking about lately just as I am about to graduate and start applying for full time positions. It is without a doubt that the family structure has changed and evolved throughout the past decades.The 1950s were seen as traditionalism period that didn’t last too long, both women and men had their strict gender roles and complied with society’s norms. Once married women were told they could have the perfect life, but all they have to do is stay home, cook, bring up the children and always please their husband. The only role men had was working and providing for the family. During this period of time, women were seen very obedient and apologetic.This period also saw women do what it takes to be the ‘perfect’ wife as popular culture and media enforced the idea of domesticity. The book by Virginia Nicholson ‘Perfect Wives in Ideal Homes’ emphasised the idea of domesticity and what it means to be a perfect wife. The book tells the stories of women in the 1950s before the invention of the pill, when divorce was looked down upon and before sex could be solely for pleasure. I found this section of the lecture very interesting, I have been raised in a traditional household, where my mum cooked, cleaned and looked after my siblings and I and my dad worked the long hours and came back home to a completely cooked dinner and a clean house. Growing up my sisters and I were also given the ‘girly’ house work and my brother not really doing much. Whenever he was given a chore that he just didn't like doing he complained saying ‘this is not a man’s job’.
Moving into the 1960s, this was known as the sexual revolution and the rejection of ‘norm’ gender roles. This period involved women’s movements, developments of contraception, changes towards how sex was viewed and women’s sexuality. In this period of time women started to have some sort of a voice. They were able to have sex outside of monogamous and the invention of the pill was available in the markets. The invention of the pill gave women the ultimate power, power they never had before, they were able to have sex for pleasure and not just to procreate.Looking at the world today, although women have made a big jump from wanting to be the ‘perfect wife’ to being able to enter the workforce and complete ‘paid’ work they still not equal to men. Women get paid 16% (1 million dollars over a life time) lower than men, face lower chances of finding a job, more likely to be in part-time work and are more likely to be discriminated against in the workplace . Mothers are 100% less likely to be recommended for hire than childless women. When it comes to positions of high power whether it would be in childcare center or a multi-million dollar company men are in power. This reminds me of systems of privilege, in some cases men have the ‘male privilege’ of being hired or in power just for being a male.
I found this Ted Talk by Michal Kimmel, in which he talks about gender equality and how it is important for countries, their economies, companies, provides more opportunities ,men and their children and overall more happiness for everyone.
'Privilege is invisible to those who have it', Micheal Kimmel
~ REFLECTION 5~
WEEK SIX: WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic-violence
This week’s weeks lecture content was on the topic Domestic Violence (DV). This is becoming a massive public health issue that requires attention form a multidisciplinary approach. DV has always been present in many countries and their cultures throughout the years before it became a public health issue. Women were always seen to be the victims of such crimes. Throughout the lecture, we learnt out the DV cycle which explained the complex nature of abuse. I had no idea such a cycle existed however it made so much sense. The cycle had six different phases that explained why it’s so hard for the victim to just leave. Many people including myself have always thought “why won’t you just leave” however it’s not that easy and the theory clearly explains why. I found this really interesting.
DV Cycle of Abuse Wheel
Most of the time it’s really hard for the victim to leave especially when it comes to women with children and who are financially depend on their abusive partner.
Something that I previously had no knowledge prior to study health culture and society in my first year is that DV comes in many different forms. DV doesn’t necessarily have to be physical abuse, it can come in the form of sexual abuse, mental and psychological abuse, economic abuse and emotional abuse.
In the United States, on average 20 people are physically abused every minute, this equals 10 million people in one year.
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I have learned that an a new initiative, a number of hairdressers are now trained to look for signs of DV in women who to get their hair cut.
This issue dates back to when many women had no choice in any aspects of their lives. Many cultures and religions still carry the tradition and custom of ‘beating’ their wives. I have travelled to Africa (Sudan to be specific) and I have observed that the ‘beating’ you culture is somewhat normal. Many husbands in that country thought that their wives had to complete all the tasks, they couldn’t say no, took care of the kids, some were married as child brides to much much older men and others were refused education by their husbands. I spoke to my aunty asked her why this was the case for so many women (although I myself didn’t personally see any DV in person) and she replied and said that many older people still live by the tradition and the customs that have been a part of their culture for hundreds of years.
This is a video from South Africa, where 1 in 4 women are survivors of DV. The explains that in SA there is a belief that if your husband/partner beats you it means he loves.
The boys interviewed said that " A girl cannot be stronger than you"
I personally think that as long as there isn’t any education about DV and the effects of it as well changing social norms that there wouldn’t be much of a change around these countries. However, in saying that social normal are difficult to change as they have been a part of the culture for so many generations.
As future health professionals, it is extremely important to understand that DV comes in many different forms and no matter how it is delivered it leave the victims afraid to even live their everyday life. There is no simple solution to the DV of just leaving as many people many think is the easiest way to just leave.
This Ted talk is by Jackson Katz, who is anti sexist activist and expert on violence.
He argues that gender violence is a men's issue and not just a women's and that calling gender violence a women's issue is part of the problem. 1- it gives men an excuse not to pay attention as they hear "women issue". 2- it erases men from a conversation that is centrally about them. 3- the question shouldn't the women (in most cases victim) but it should be about the men, why do men beat women, why is DV still a major problem around the world?
~ REFLECTION 6 ~
WEEK SEVEN: WOMEN'S HEALTH IN SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS
Image result for women in same sex relationships
Image result for women in same sex relationships
Image result for women in same sex relationships
This week’s lecture topic has been on the health of women who are a part of same sex relationship. The phenomena of lesbianism has previously challenged Roman male’s view of sexual intimacy and what it means to be sexually active and be the exclusive giver of sexual pleasure. Homosexuality went from being classified as a sin by the church to a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric association. Prior to 1970s the American Psychiatric association still considered homosexuality as a mental disorder. Scientist had previously throughout that if your homosexual there must be something wrong with you. Therapists employed the aversion therapy, which involved showing pictures of naked men to the patient (man) while be electrically being shocked until they vomit and after they are shown naked pictures of women or are sent on a date with a nurse. The mental disorder classification of homosexuality was not removed from the DSM until the late 1980s, however the WHO only removed homosexuality as a mental disorder not until 1992. The classifications of homosexuality changes with society as society is an evolving social construction.
In the modern world, female homosexuality has not received negative or tabooed response from the world more specifically the churches and criminal authorities as homosexuality previously and still continues to be discriminated against. In the ancient Greek times female homosexuality has been mentioned in some literature why was exclusively written by men. Sappho was a Greek poet who was best known for her work about women and love, she was also widely known for writing about female homosexual desires. Homosexuality has been seen as something exotic, erotic and sexually stimulating.
Image result for sappho
The word faggot has been around for a while however, in my generation it came back really strong. I remember going to primary school and this word be used to discriminate against one another although many kids who said it don’t really know what it means or where it derived from. This term was first used in 1913 as a reference to gay men. In today’s world, this term is still used and is in and out of fashion, however it the meaning behind it has never changed.Homosexual women experience many health disparities and health inequalities throughout their lives. Many studies have found that many people in homosexual relationship have experienced one of the following:- Low rates of health insurance- Fear of discrimination- Negative experiences with healthcare providers- Social stigma- Abuse and violence- Being treated unfairly in the legal system- Rejection by family and friends- Hiding of one’s lifeThroughout research it’s also evident that women in same sex relationships access health care services less frequently, which increases their risk of early screening and early detection. However, the prevalence of HIV in same sex relationships between been is very low. In the US there are still no confirmed cases of HIV transmission. In comparison to HIV transmission between homosexual men in the US.Although homosexuality has been somewhat socially accepted throughout the world, there are still many discrimination whether they be politically or legally. In Australia lesbians are not allowed to adopt children or get married. It’s also evident that children of lesbians are more likely to be worse off in the long run and in all aspects of health measures. However, homosexuality has come a long way in society and there is still a long way to go for women homosexuality to be accepted as a wold wide phenomena
~ REFLECTION 7 ~
WEEK EIGHT: MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN WOMEN
Women’s bodies have always been to be some kind of evil that was not understand by doctors or during the early days of medicine. The process of menstruation was especially considered a force of evil as women were able to bleed for days without dying. Women were takes into separate rooms, living and sleeping areas during the course of their menstruation period as they were believed to be uncleaned and mentally unstable.
Throughout history it was believed by men, the church (controlled by men) and in medicine (controlled by men) that women’s reproductive organs greatly influence their brains and their thinking patterns.
The role of a women has always been determined and defined by men throughout history. Women have been studied by psychoanalyst in better understanding hysteria and confirming that it was really a mental problem. It’s no secret that women have and still under so much pressure to ‘do it right’ to continue to keep up with society’s expectations on behaviour both at home and in public. Their life has been dictated for many years throughout history and this has led to taking drugs as a coping mechanism and a guide to help them keep calm. Medications such as sedatives and amphetamine were easily accessed over the counter at chemists. The easy access on ‘calming’ drugs has made it easy for women to continue and self-medicate. Links between drugs and mental and physical conditions of women were studied later in time.
Mental health in 20th century for women has somewhat changed to what used to be self-medication and to now prescription for commonly depression and anxiety. In Australia 1 in 5 women will experience depression and 1 in 3 will experience anxiety during their lifetime. Higher rates of depression are reported for younger women and women of specific population groups. Gender plays an enormous part in determining mental health as gender determines the differential power and control men and women have over general health and their position in society. The WHO has predicted uni-polar depression to be the second leading cause of global disability by 2020 and is twice as common in women.
The WHO states that there are gender biases that occur in the treatment of psychological disorders. This means that doctors are more likely to diagnose mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression in women in comparison to men. Another gender bias is that being a female gender there is a higher chance that doctors will prescribe mood altering drugs.
Around the world
I have recently came back from Vietnam, where a completed a three week professional placement. My group and I inquired into the field of maternal health, we aimed to gain knowledge about the the services delivered to pregnant Vietnamese women, the quality and effectiveness of services for pregnant women and new mothers and identify key limitations and challenges that need to be overcome to provide higher quality maternal health care. After conducting in depth interviews, observing the services delivered and focus group discussion we were able to come develop conclusions and recommendations. A major theme that stood out to us was the fact the under-reporting of mental health issues at the primary care. We found that after the delivery, women may experience depression in the form changing body size and the stress of long deliveries, however many women aren’t aware of what depressive symptoms look or feel like. Many of the Vietnamese doctors that we interviewed, when asked about mental health, they said that due to workforce shortages clinicians having to take care of an excessive amount of patients, which is not conducive to quality consultation. For example, the obstetrician stated he will consult approx. 50 patients/day regarding their pregnancy. After working in the hospital, he only consults for three hours where each patient receives 15 to 20 minutes. In addition, women who experience mental health seek help from their family. In Vietnam, only serious cases of mental health are treated at the higher levels of care.
I found this video, which also explains mental health in Vietnam as not being an issue that is looked into by the country's population. the speaker states that as it an emerging concept many people don't know much about it thus not many student are enrolling into psychology majors. She also touched on the stigma surrounding mental health in Vietnam.
~ REFLECTION 8 ~
WEEK NINE: THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND BODY IMAGE
Most girls grow up playing with Barbie and wanting to her blond hair, perfect figure and short dresses and just an overall perfect life. However what many fail to realize is that Barbie is a make belief character. Historically the fashion industry was inclusive and diverse in the inclusion of many different body sizes. It’s only recently that the industry has been extreme in the way they portray women’s bodies whether it’s on the media or through kid’s toys.
A sexualised culture has become mainstreamed and normalised, as evident by the millions of advertisements whether through magazines, modelling, TV and/or social media. Such Ads are saturated with sexually permissive messages, which is a major public health issue. Such advertisements encourage the objectification and misperception many men have towards the female sex. This contributes to problems like sexual violence and assault against women. The sexualisation and objectification increases the level of depression, low self-esteem and eating disorders (ie anorexia) amongst the younger female demographic. This is mainly because they compare themselves to people like commercial model for example Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid and feel “less beautiful” and develop prolonged mental health complications (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa, 2016).
Self-esteem and body image are closely linked. According to the Victorian government, approximately nine out of ten women have dieted at least once in their life, with this have been mainly contributed by the promotion of thinness in media and advertising. However, extreme dieting amongst adolescent girls has the ability to cause the development of eating disorders for example anorexia and also issues such as poor mental health (ie depression) (Victorian government, 2015). Recent research such as the study by Arcelus, Mitchell, Wales and Nielsen (2011) have shown approximately 1 in 5 individuals with anorexia have died as a result of committing suicide.
The feminist theory centres on the idea of supporting equality for women and men and eliminating gender stratification, for example same work income and job opportunities However the recent post-feminist culture takes feminism for “granted” and also repudiates feminism. According to Tolman (2006), it’s over simplistic and obscure to provide an account of women’s sexuality that is “either pure pressure or relentless risk”. This more optimistic view shows that this public health problem is very complex in nature.
Around the World
“Fattening hut” in Africa
Being from an African background, visiting parts of Africa I was able to see the difference in media influence. In most parts of Africa, a “fat” women is considered beautiful. This derived from generations of cultural practices that a women must be fatterend for her husband before marriage. This idea is shared amongst a lot of countries in Africa, the idea is that not only are “fatter” women more beautiful but they are seen as wealthy by the community. It’s the idea of wealth and glamour- When many people in that community see a fatter women they think that her husband is wealthy and provides for her and is able to provide enough to get her that big.
In the Video the famous Jessica Simpson goes to around the world to find what the price of beauty is. In Uganda, Africa, she finds that brides have to go to a “fattening hut” for two month.
“Lighter skin” in Asia
I have heard about Asia’s skin whitening fascination from a number of sources. One of my friends from China, told me about how a lot of Chinese people want to be lighter in complexion as they associate that will wealth, high socio status and purity. She said that the lighter your complexion is the more high your status is. The way she explained is that the darker you skin the more likely you work as a labour (farmer-out in the sun), the light your skin is the more likely you are to be working in side.
~ REFLECTION 9 ~
WEEK TEN: THE HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN
What and who is an Aboriginal? According to mainstream media and most white experts, it is a black person who lives in remote Australia, living on welfare, does not take care of their children and has many social issues. However, people who identify themselves as ‘Aboriginal’ range from dark-skinned, board- nose to blonde hair and blue eyes. Michel Foucault, a French philosopher proposed the idea of ‘materiality of discursive practices’ in which he argued ‘we identify as cultural people according to the lived experiences, ideas and practices of the dominant culture. As this is the case with Aboriginality, it is not defined by physical appearance rather by relationship to culture, community and lived experiences. Due to stereotypes a majority of light-skinned Aboriginal people face challenges on proving their identify. Over the past 200 years after colonisation the primary question of ‘who’ is an Aboriginal and ‘what’ characteristics that support and confirm any legitimate claim to be an Aboriginal person have emerged. Andrew Bolt in his column stated
“Because despite her auburn hair and charmingly freckled face, she, too, is an Aborigine”… Andrew Blot, 2009
Based on this comment it is assumed that Andrew is in disbelief that an Aboriginal person can have auburn hair and a charmingly freckled faced. Like the majority of white Australians, Andrew has been raised and fostered with a stereotypical image of what an Aboriginal person is meant to look like. European settlers first constructed the identification of the ‘Aborigine’. Who believed white European male were civilised and had superior intelligence therefore belonged on the top of the global human hierarchy. Most of the misrepresentation and stereotypes of Indigenous people started back when white European settlers invaded Australia. Since then, misrepresentations have been carried from generation to generation through the media and recently social media. Anita Heiss challenges the social construction and stereotypes of what defines an Aboriginal. She explains the diversity of Indigenous identities and concept of connection to country and culture. For most non-Indigenous people land is seen as a commodity, an asset that can be bought and sold to make profit. However, for Indigenous Australians there is a much deeper spiritual connection and every aspect of their lives connects to their land. Bob Randall, An Aboriginal elder and traditional owner of Ayre’s Rock describes his connection to his land he says, (Global Oneness Project, 2016)‘The land is my backbone… I only stand straight, happy, proud and not ashamed about my colour because I still have land… I think of land as the history of my nation.’ Ayre’s Rock
Pre-invasion, the Indigenous people were resourceful, rich in culture and practiced a rich social and economic lifestyle. They had a set system where every person had a different way in which they contributed to the wider community
I identify myself as part of the cultural interface, I am African but I am Australian, I have lived my life outside my home country for as long as I can remember. Being in this interface I start to question myself, I have always wanted to know why are black people hated and discriminated against by what seems like anyone who is not black? I have always wanted to know what makes black people different to anyone else. Why is it that when a black person commits a crime they get stereotyped and ongoing media coverage and when I white person commits the same crime they get very limited media coverage and in most cases they are said to be mentally ill and were not in the right space of mind at the time of the crime?
With such questions in the back of my mind I wanted to get some answers, I was able to learn that people are not just racist it is based on historical, cultural and ideological manifestation. The theory of critical race, explains that race is something that is socially constructed by society. Race could not have existed had we as a society not built it (Ladson-Billings, 1998). Ian Hacking explains in his monograph, The Social Construction of What? (1999) that the application of social construction is not merely to worldly items- things, kinds and facts but to our beliefs about them. Hacking emphasise that particular beliefs have been shaped by social influences (Hacking, 1999).
The nation of Otherness comes into play when I try to break down humanity and the inequality we live in. the theory of otherness explains how majority and minority identities are constructed; this is because certain groups control society and have greater political power. The term other is used to describe the way people tend to view others who are dissimilar to them. To me this term explains why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are treated differently. White Australians view them as the other because white Australians just do not understand their culture, customs and tradition.
There were numerous policies of administration implement by white Europeans throughout the invasion period that has directly negatively impacted Indigenous people today (Heiss, 2014). The removal of Indigenous children has created significant poor health outcomes for. The disparities in health found within the Indigenous communities today, much of its foundation is in the past policies implemented. However these policies failed to work and instead resulted in grief, mental health, trauma and suicide.The issues affecting Indigenous women are complex and diverse thus it is imperative to understand the cultural and historical background as culture plays has enormous effect on the life humans live every day. The past policies of administration have severely impacted the lives of Indigenous. Thus, it is a vital aspect to comprehend the historical and cultural background of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be able to understand their current life. For Indigenous women, there are major disparities in health in comparison to the non-Indigenous counterpart.
~ REFLECTION 10 ~ WEEK THIRTEEN: CHILDREN BY CHOICE AMD TRUE RELATIONSHIPS -WORKSHOP
The last class for Women’s Health was an interactive workshop presented by a member from Children by Choice, True Relationships and DV connect. I found this session very interesting and educational in many different ways. Although some of the facts they stated we had already covered in class, we had the opportunity to ask questions about anything that we ever wondered or questions that we were afraid to talk about in class.
I found out that Children by Choice was established in 1972. Hearing that I realised that the 1970s were the sexual revolution and rejection of the ‘norm’ gender roles thus it made sense that the organisation was established during that time. The presenter spoke about the different types of services they provide and the fact that they are the ONLY independent pro-choice organisation is Queensland and possibly Australia. One of the things that I had limited knowledge of is the term ‘reproductive coercion’. The she explained it very well and I was able to gain an indepth understanding of the issue and how common it is in Australia.
I undertook some research after the lecture on that topic and I was able to find: in the United States, the rates of reproductive are suspected to be so large and yet so hidden that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist is recommending doctors screen for reproductive coercion alongside domestic violence. However in Australia, there is very limited research into the area and the depth of the issue yet to be understood in an Australian context.
Children by Choice states that only after 1986 a court decision was made that abortions can be lawfully provided in Queensland, only where there is a risk to the women’s physical and/or mental health if the pregnancy continues. However, abortion is still remains the only medical procedure included within the Queensland Criminal Code. Under the Queensland Criminal Code, there are three sections that women (accessing), clinicians (providing) and even clinics (providing equipment and instruments) can be prosecuted under.
I found this video, from the channel ONE WORD on you tube. 50 women responded to one word “ABORTION”, there were mixed emotions about the world as you would expect and blow are some of these response. However more than half of the women agreed that it is a women’s choice.
“A WOMEN’S RIGHT”
“CHOICE”
“CONFUSING”
“TO EACH ITS OWN”
“MURDER”
“RIGHT”
“UNFORTUNATE”
“CARELESS WITH THEIR SEXUALITY”
Around the world
In Senegal Africa, women were found killing their newborn children in some cases leaving them in the wild to starve or be eaten. The UN calls the countries laws on Abortion some of the world’s strictest- if a women wants an abortion she needs THREE DOCTORS to sign off on the procedure. As a result 38% of all women jailed in Senegal were charged with infanticide or illegal abortions. Up to 13% of all maternal death are due to illegal abortions.
- 47,000 women die each year
- According to the WHO more than 97% in Africa and 95% in Latin America of abortions are unsafe.
When a country legalises abortion there are better health outcomes for women:
- 1996 South Africa legalised Abortion- as a result death from unsafe abortions decreased by 90%
~ REFLECTION 9 ~ WEEK TEN: THE HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN
What and who is an Aboriginal? According to mainstream media and most white experts, it is a black person who lives in remote Australia, living on welfare, does not take care of their children and has many social issues. However, people who identify themselves as ‘Aboriginal’ range from dark-skinned, board- nose to blonde hair and blue eyes. Michel Foucault, a French philosopher proposed the idea of ‘materiality of discursive practices’ in which he argued ‘we identify as cultural people according to the lived experiences, ideas and practices of the dominant culture. As this is the case with Aboriginality, it is not defined by physical appearance rather by relationship to culture, community and lived experiences. Due to stereotypes a majority of light-skinned Aboriginal people face challenges on proving their identify. Over the past 200 years after colonisation the primary question of ‘who’ is an Aboriginal and ‘what’ characteristics that support and confirm any legitimate claim to be an Aboriginal person have emerged. Andrew Bolt in his column stated “Because despite her auburn hair and charmingly freckled face, she, too, is an Aborigine”… Andrew Blot, 2009 Based on this comment it is assumed that Andrew is in disbelief that an Aboriginal person can have auburn hair and a charmingly freckled faced. Like the majority of white Australians, Andrew has been raised and fostered with a stereotypical image of what an Aboriginal person is meant to look like. European settlers first constructed the identification of the ‘Aborigine’. Who believed white European male were civilised and had superior intelligence therefore belonged on the top of the global human hierarchy.
Most of the misrepresentation and stereotypes of Indigenous people started back when white European settlers invaded Australia. Since then, misrepresentations have been carried from generation to generation through the media and recently social media.
Anita Heiss challenges the social construction and stereotypes of what defines an Aboriginal. She explains the diversity of Indigenous identities and concept of connection to country and culture. For most non-Indigenous people land is seen as a commodity, an asset that can be bought and sold to make profit. However, for Indigenous Australians there is a much deeper spiritual connection and every aspect of their lives connects to their land. Bob Randall, An Aboriginal elder and traditional owner of Ayre’s Rock describes his connection to his land he says, (Global Oneness Project, 2016) ‘The land is my backbone… I only stand straight, happy, proud and not ashamed about my colour because I still have land… I think of land as the history of my nation.’ Ayre’s Rock
Pre-invasion, the Indigenous people were resourceful, rich in culture and practiced a rich social and economic lifestyle. They had a set system where every person had a different way in which they contributed to the wider community
I identify myself as part of the cultural interface, I am African but I am Australian, I have lived my life outside my home country for as long as I can remember. Being in this interface I start to question myself, I have always wanted to know why are black people hated and discriminated against by what seems like anyone who is not black? I have always wanted to know what makes black people different to anyone else. Why is it that when a black person commits a crime they get stereotyped and ongoing media coverage and when I white person commits the same crime they get very limited media coverage and in most cases they are said to be mentally ill and were not in the right space of mind at the time of the crime?
With such questions in the back of my mind I wanted to get some answers, I was able to learn that people are not just racist it is based on historical, cultural and ideological manifestation. The theory of critical race, explains that race is something that is socially constructed by society. Race could not have existed had we as a society not built it (Ladson-Billings, 1998). Ian Hacking explains in his monograph, The Social Construction of What? (1999) that the application of social construction is not merely to worldly items- things, kinds and facts but to our beliefs about them. Hacking emphasise that particular beliefs have been shaped by social influences (Hacking, 1999).
The nation of Otherness comes into play when I try to break down humanity and the inequality we live in. the theory of otherness explains how majority and minority identities are constructed; this is because certain groups control society and have greater political power. The term other is used to describe the way people tend to view others who are dissimilar to them. To me this term explains why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are treated differently. White Australians view them as the other because white Australians just do not understand their culture, customs and tradition.
There were numerous policies of administration implement by white Europeans throughout the invasion period that has directly negatively impacted Indigenous people today (Heiss, 2014). The removal of Indigenous children has created significant poor health outcomes for. The disparities in health found within the Indigenous communities today, much of its foundation is in the past policies implemented. However these policies failed to work and instead resulted in grief, mental health, trauma and suicide
The issues affecting Indigenous women are complex and diverse thus it is imperative to understand the cultural and historical background as culture plays has enormous effect on the life humans live every day. The past policies of administration have severely impacted the lives of Indigenous. Thus, it is a vital aspect to comprehend the historical and cultural background of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be able to understand their current life. For Indigenous women, there are major disparities in health in comparison to the non-Indigenous counterpart.
~REFLECTION 1 ~
WEEK TWO : WOMEN'S AMAZING BODIES
In this weeks lecture I was reminded of biology in high school when I learnt that the male sperm determines the overall sex for an individual. The misconception that females decide the sex of the baby has been passed on for hundreds of years. This has been seen well before 1500s, King Henry VIII of England was famously known for his marriage to six women and the beheading of his wife Queen consort Anne Boleyn . It is believed that one of the major reasons to her beheading was her failure to produce a male heir. In many of the African countries married men give themselves the option to marry another women or be with another just purely to produce a boy baby. Some religions like Buddhism believe that having a son means a fast way ticket to heaven. In India, girls are seen as a burden, due to the tradition of paying off the grooms family during the wedding. In China the one child policy has left many parent choosing the sex of their baby and in most cases parents choose a boy baby. In the Chinese culture only sons can carry down the family name and legacy, as such boys are seen more of a valuable asset to the family then girls. This has resulted in a skewed sex ratio of 118.9 boys :100 girls. Such a skew in ratio causes numerous social and political issues.
Throughout time girls have always been told to act like a lady. A lady is meant to be quiet, obedient, knows how to cook and clean, cares for the child/ren, never farts, doesn’t say no, her hair always looks good, wears enough make up but not too much otherwise she’s fake, has the perfect body and gets everything done on time. Our society has always socially constructed gender and what it is to be a women and man. The moment we are born society allocates us a gender which is considered the norm and we are expected to follow the rules and guidelines of that gender our whole life. Anyone who chooses anything different is considered the ‘other’ and in most cases discriminated against. Being on Instagram I have come a cross an Australian supermodel who lives in the US and has been campaigning for breastfeeding in public. I found this very interesting because most of the time celebrities don’t go against the norm otherwise they’ll lose their fans and followers. However Nicole Trunfio stood her ground and campaigned for something is believes in not just following the norms of society. In pop culture, breasts are fine if they are being sexually objectified however something as natural as breastfeeding is such a controversial topic when done in public.
On the topic of gender and what it means to be a lady, I have come across a number of 'Gender Reveal' YouTube videos. These types of videos have been a big thing in the YouTube world and they get millions of views from people around the world. The whole point is to reveal the gender of the expected baby, for a baby girl its the traditional pink and for a baby boy its the traditional blue. What I have found interesting is that a number of parents say they don't mind what the sex of their baby is as long as the baby is healthy, however get overly excited when its a boy. Below are just a few videos that showcase this trend.Video 1: YouTube "Gender Revel' Video 2: YouTube 'Gender Reveal'
~ REFLECTION 2~ WEEK THREE : WOMEN IN POPULAR CULTURE
The lecture content on women in the media and popular culture really grabbed my attention. The perception of the female body has changed and evolved over time. During the earlier medieval time, medieval medical practitioners believed the “distinctly female organ” However, recently there has been an increasing cultural shift towards sexually permissive attitudes and a greater representation of sex and the female body. The female body has been objectified and sexualised by men for the longest time. Females are told through the media and most recently social media that in order to be ‘beautiful’ you must dress, look and be a certain way. Objectification of females and their body in the form of media causes a number of mental health issues for example depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body dysmorphic and low self-esteem.Photograph 1: Nicki Minaj (American rapper) filming for her music video 'Do You Mind'
Photograph 2: Nicki Minaj (American rapper) in the filming process of her music video "Anaconda'
The much anticipated 2015 super bowl commercial left was very controversial and was successful in generating 114.4 million views and shares during the super bowl game. Throughout the advertisement, a series of carefully placed objects were used to create an image that the model was walking naked whilst eating a burger from the fast food chain. As well as this, the men all gazed at her whilst she walked through the supermarket. In numerous occasions, the terms “all natural” was said to symbolise the burger as it has no antibiotics.
Video 1: The much anticipated super bowl commercial- 2015
I think it’s really hard being a female nowadays, simply because you can’t be yourself or you will get judged by ‘everyone’. There are so many pressures and societal expectations that we as females have to deal and keep up with. We have to keep up with the latest trends for example one of the most recent make up trends is having your ‘eyebrows one fleek’ and ‘contour and highlight’. This simply means that your eyebrows have to look perfect 24/7. Many makeup artiest say that contouring and highlighting is the new form of cosmetic surgery at a relatively cheaper price. This makeup method ‘helps’ people to have the nose shape they’ve always wanted, the fuller lips, the perfect cheek bones and the bronzed look. There are many debates in the make up community as to started this make up trend, many believe the famous Kim Kardashian was the first to rock to look. In my opinion, what matters is that there are millions of young girls who spend so much money to buy these makeup products to make you look a certain why just to fit in with society and be considered apart of the latest trend in fashion/makeup. The problem arises for those who want to be a part of this trend simply to fit in and cannot afford to purchase these products.Photograph 3: The latest trends in makeup 'Lip contouring'
~ REFLECTION 3 ~
WEEK FOUR: THE ‘RIGHT’ TIME TO HAVE A CHILD
The lecture content for this week of 'the right time to have a child' I found very interesting as it was a topic I could heavily relate to. The topic of abortion is a very controversial topic that many people don’t necessarily like discussing as they are either for or against the idea. Throughout time there has been mixed emotions about whether abortion is considered murder. Most of these mixed views were invented by churches and philosophers. Having the chance to get an abortion should be a choice that every woman around the world is allowed to make.
In our society today, there are strict rules and values surrounding females and their bodies. Since the beginning of time females have always been given a ‘manual’ to follow. If they are breastfeeding their child for over a year its ‘too long’ and the child is too old, if they choose to go back to work early and place their child on formula its ‘inconsiderate’ of the mother. I think there has defiantly been a cultural shift by society in what to expect as a mother.
Today, women control when to have babies, with whom, how many children they want to have and the gap in age between each child. Although since the 1990’s liberation and the changed views child bearing and women having the choice of when to return to work. However, this has not been the case for all women around the world.
There are still many millions of child brides every year, women who don’t have a choice in the number of children they have, women who don’t have the chance to go back to school/work after they deliver their child. A very large number of these women are in less developed and developing countries.
In many of the developing countries, childbirth is seen as a life or death situation as women in these countries a count for 99% of maternal mortality. Much of the problem is having limited resources, lack of access to quality care before during and after childbirth and having trained and skilled midwives and nurses. Below is a video I found on maternal mortality in Somalia. It states that every day every 90 seconds a mother dies giving birth. Just putting into that perspective i found that pretty confronting and really saddening as these maternal death are from preventable causes. Somalia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world (1 in 12). Just by training 1000 midwives 3/4 woman will be saved who could have died from preventable causes Somali-land .
Video 1: Maternal Mortality Awareness Campaign
One of the quotes from the lecture content that has stuck in my head is ‘To prevent maternal death, it is important to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
~ REFLECTION 4 ~
WEEK FIVE: CHANGING GENDER ROLES IN FAMILIES
This week’s content was on gender roles, paid work, house work and child-raising. I found this topic intriguing as it is something that I have been thinking about lately just as I am about to graduate and start applying for full time positions. It is without a doubt that the family structure has changed and evolved throughout the past decades.The 1950s were seen as traditionalism period that didn’t last too long, both women and men had their strict gender roles and complied with society’s norms. Once married women were told they could have the perfect life, but all they have to do is stay home, cook, bring up the children and always please their husband. The only role men had was working and providing for the family. During this period of time, women were seen very obedient and apologetic.This period also saw women do what it takes to be the ‘perfect’ wife as popular culture and media enforced the idea of domesticity. The book by Virginia Nicholson ‘Perfect Wives in Ideal Homes’ emphasised the idea of domesticity and what it means to be a perfect wife. The book tells the stories of women in the 1950s before the invention of the pill, when divorce was looked down upon and before sex could be solely for pleasure. I found this section of the lecture very interesting, I have been raised in a traditional household, where my mum cooked, cleaned and looked after my siblings and I and my dad worked the long hours and came back home to a completely cooked dinner and a clean house. Growing up my sisters and I were also given the ‘girly’ house work and my brother not really doing much. Whenever he was given a chore that he just didn't like doing he complained saying ‘this is not a man’s job’.
Moving into the 1960s, this was known as the sexual revolution and the rejection of ‘norm’ gender roles. This period involved women’s movements, developments of contraception, changes towards how sex was viewed and women’s sexuality. In this period of time women started to have some sort of a voice. They were able to have sex outside of monogamous and the invention of the pill was available in the markets. The invention of the pill gave women the ultimate power, power they never had before, they were able to have sex for pleasure and not just to procreate.Looking at the world today, although women have made a big jump from wanting to be the ‘perfect wife’ to being able to enter the workforce and complete ‘paid’ work they still not equal to men. Women get paid 16% (1 million dollars over a life time) lower than men, face lower chances of finding a job, more likely to be in part-time work and are more likely to be discriminated against in the workplace . Mothers are 100% less likely to be recommended for hire than childless women. When it comes to positions of high power whether it would be in childcare center or a multi-million dollar company men are in power. This reminds me of systems of privilege, in some cases men have the ‘male privilege’ of being hired or in power just for being a male.I found this Ted Talk by Michal Kimmel, in which he talks about gender equality and how it is important for countries, their economies, companies, provides more opportunities ,men and their children and overall more happiness for everyone.
'Privilege is invisible to those who have it', Micheal Kimmel
~ REFLECTION 5~
WEEK SIX: WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
This week’s weeks lecture content was on the topic Domestic Violence (DV). This is becoming a massive public health issue that requires attention form a multidisciplinary approach. DV has always been present in many countries and their cultures throughout the years before it became a public health issue. Women were always seen to be the victims of such crimes. Throughout the lecture, we learnt out the DV cycle which explained the complex nature of abuse. I had no idea such a cycle existed however it made so much sense. The cycle had six different phases that explained why it’s so hard for the victim to just leave. Many people including myself have always thought “why won’t you just leave” however it’s not that easy and the theory clearly explains why. I found this really interesting.
Most of the time it’s really hard for the victim to leave especially when it comes to women with children and who are financially depend on their abusive partner.
Something that I previously had no knowledge prior to study health culture and society in my first year is that DV comes in many different forms. DV doesn’t necessarily have to be physical abuse, it can come in the form of sexual abuse, mental and psychological abuse, economic abuse and emotional abuse.
In the United States, on average 20 people are physically abused every minute, this equals 10 million people in one year.
I have learned that an a new initiative, a number of hairdressers are now trained to look for signs of DV in women who to get their hair cut.
This issue dates back to when many women had no choice in any aspects of their lives. Many cultures and religions still carry the tradition and custom of ‘beating’ their wives. I have travelled to Africa (Sudan to be specific) and I have observed that the ‘beating’ you culture is somewhat normal. Many husbands in that country thought that their wives had to complete all the tasks, they couldn’t say no, took care of the kids, some were married as child brides to much much older men and others were refused education by their husbands. I spoke to my aunty asked her why this was the case for so many women (although I myself didn’t personally see any DV in person) and she replied and said that many older people still live by the tradition and the customs that have been a part of their culture for hundreds of years.
This is a video from South Africa, where 1 in 4 women are survivors of DV. The explains that in SA there is a belief that if your husband/partner beats you it means he loves.
The boys interviewed said that " A girl cannot be stronger than you"
I personally think that as long as there isn’t any education about DV and the effects of it as well changing social norms that there wouldn’t be much of a change around these countries. However, in saying that social normal are difficult to change as they have been a part of the culture for so many generations.
As future health professionals, it is extremely important to understand that DV comes in many different forms and no matter how it is delivered it leave the victims afraid to even live their everyday life. There is no simple solution to the DV of just leaving as many people many think is the easiest way to just leave.
This Ted talk is by Jackson Katz, who is anti sexist activist and expert on violence.
He argues that gender violence is a men's issue and not just a women's and that calling gender violence a women's issue is part of the problem. 1- it gives men an excuse not to pay attention as they hear "women issue". 2- it erases men from a conversation that is centrally about them. 3- the question shouldn't the women (in most cases victim) but it should be about the men, why do men beat women, why is DV still a major problem around the world?
~ REFLECTION 6 ~
WEEK SEVEN: WOMEN'S HEALTH IN SAME-SEX RELATIONSHIPS
This week’s lecture topic has been on the health of women who are a part of same sex relationship. The phenomena of lesbianism has previously challenged Roman male’s view of sexual intimacy and what it means to be sexually active and be the exclusive giver of sexual pleasure. Homosexuality went from being classified as a sin by the church to a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric association. Prior to 1970s the American Psychiatric association still considered homosexuality as a mental disorder. Scientist had previously throughout that if your homosexual there must be something wrong with you. Therapists employed the aversion therapy, which involved showing pictures of naked men to the patient (man) while be electrically being shocked until they vomit and after they are shown naked pictures of women or are sent on a date with a nurse. The mental disorder classification of homosexuality was not removed from the DSM until the late 1980s, however the WHO only removed homosexuality as a mental disorder not until 1992. The classifications of homosexuality changes with society as society is an evolving social construction.
In the modern world, female homosexuality has not received negative or tabooed response from the world more specifically the churches and criminal authorities as homosexuality previously and still continues to be discriminated against. In the ancient Greek times female homosexuality has been mentioned in some literature why was exclusively written by men. Sappho was a Greek poet who was best known for her work about women and love, she was also widely known for writing about female homosexual desires. Homosexuality has been seen as something exotic, erotic and sexually stimulating.The word faggot has been around for a while however, in my generation it came back really strong. I remember going to primary school and this word be used to discriminate against one another although many kids who said it don’t really know what it means or where it derived from. This term was first used in 1913 as a reference to gay men. In today’s world, this term is still used and is in and out of fashion, however it the meaning behind it has never changed.Homosexual women experience many health disparities and health inequalities throughout their lives. Many studies have found that many people in homosexual relationship have experienced one of the following:- Low rates of health insurance- Fear of discrimination- Negative experiences with healthcare providers- Social stigma- Abuse and violence- Being treated unfairly in the legal system- Rejection by family and friends- Hiding of one’s lifeThroughout research it’s also evident that women in same sex relationships access health care services less frequently, which increases their risk of early screening and early detection. However, the prevalence of HIV in same sex relationships between been is very low. In the US there are still no confirmed cases of HIV transmission. In comparison to HIV transmission between homosexual men in the US.Although homosexuality has been somewhat socially accepted throughout the world, there are still many discrimination whether they be politically or legally. In Australia lesbians are not allowed to adopt children or get married. It’s also evident that children of lesbians are more likely to be worse off in the long run and in all aspects of health measures. However, homosexuality has come a long way in society and there is still a long way to go for women homosexuality to be accepted as a wold wide phenomena
~ REFLECTION 7 ~
WEEK EIGHT: MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN WOMEN
Women’s bodies have always been to be some kind of evil that was not understand by doctors or during the early days of medicine. The process of menstruation was especially considered a force of evil as women were able to bleed for days without dying. Women were takes into separate rooms, living and sleeping areas during the course of their menstruation period as they were believed to be uncleaned and mentally unstable.
Throughout history it was believed by men, the church (controlled by men) and in medicine (controlled by men) that women’s reproductive organs greatly influence their brains and their thinking patterns.
The role of a women has always been determined and defined by men throughout history. Women have been studied by psychoanalyst in better understanding hysteria and confirming that it was really a mental problem. It’s no secret that women have and still under so much pressure to ‘do it right’ to continue to keep up with society’s expectations on behaviour both at home and in public. Their life has been dictated for many years throughout history and this has led to taking drugs as a coping mechanism and a guide to help them keep calm. Medications such as sedatives and amphetamine were easily accessed over the counter at chemists. The easy access on ‘calming’ drugs has made it easy for women to continue and self-medicate. Links between drugs and mental and physical conditions of women were studied later in time.
Mental health in 20th century for women has somewhat changed to what used to be self-medication and to now prescription for commonly depression and anxiety. In Australia 1 in 5 women will experience depression and 1 in 3 will experience anxiety during their lifetime. Higher rates of depression are reported for younger women and women of specific population groups. Gender plays an enormous part in determining mental health as gender determines the differential power and control men and women have over general health and their position in society. The WHO has predicted uni-polar depression to be the second leading cause of global disability by 2020 and is twice as common in women.
The WHO states that there are gender biases that occur in the treatment of psychological disorders. This means that doctors are more likely to diagnose mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression in women in comparison to men. Another gender bias is that being a female gender there is a higher chance that doctors will prescribe mood altering drugs.
Around the world
I have recently came back from Vietnam, where a completed a three week professional placement. My group and I inquired into the field of maternal health, we aimed to gain knowledge about the the services delivered to pregnant Vietnamese women, the quality and effectiveness of services for pregnant women and new mothers and identify key limitations and challenges that need to be overcome to provide higher quality maternal health care. After conducting in depth interviews, observing the services delivered and focus group discussion we were able to come develop conclusions and recommendations. A major theme that stood out to us was the fact the under-reporting of mental health issues at the primary care. We found that after the delivery, women may experience depression in the form changing body size and the stress of long deliveries, however many women aren’t aware of what depressive symptoms look or feel like. Many of the Vietnamese doctors that we interviewed, when asked about mental health, they said that due to workforce shortages clinicians having to take care of an excessive amount of patients, which is not conducive to quality consultation. For example, the obstetrician stated he will consult approx. 50 patients/day regarding their pregnancy. After working in the hospital, he only consults for three hours where each patient receives 15 to 20 minutes. In addition, women who experience mental health seek help from their family. In Vietnam, only serious cases of mental health are treated at the higher levels of care.
I found this video, which also explains mental health in Vietnam as not being an issue that is looked into by the country's population. the speaker states that as it an emerging concept many people don't know much about it thus not many student are enrolling into psychology majors. She also touched on the stigma surrounding mental health in Vietnam.
~ REFLECTION 8 ~
WEEK NINE: THE FASHION INDUSTRY AND BODY IMAGE
Most girls grow up playing with Barbie and wanting to her blond hair, perfect figure and short dresses and just an overall perfect life. However what many fail to realize is that Barbie is a make belief character. Historically the fashion industry was inclusive and diverse in the inclusion of many different body sizes. It’s only recently that the industry has been extreme in the way they portray women’s bodies whether it’s on the media or through kid’s toys.
A sexualised culture has become mainstreamed and normalised, as evident by the millions of advertisements whether through magazines, modelling, TV and/or social media. Such Ads are saturated with sexually permissive messages, which is a major public health issue. Such advertisements encourage the objectification and misperception many men have towards the female sex. This contributes to problems like sexual violence and assault against women. The sexualisation and objectification increases the level of depression, low self-esteem and eating disorders (ie anorexia) amongst the younger female demographic. This is mainly because they compare themselves to people like commercial model for example Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid and feel “less beautiful” and develop prolonged mental health complications (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa, 2016).
Self-esteem and body image are closely linked. According to the Victorian government, approximately nine out of ten women have dieted at least once in their life, with this have been mainly contributed by the promotion of thinness in media and advertising. However, extreme dieting amongst adolescent girls has the ability to cause the development of eating disorders for example anorexia and also issues such as poor mental health (ie depression) (Victorian government, 2015). Recent research such as the study by Arcelus, Mitchell, Wales and Nielsen (2011) have shown approximately 1 in 5 individuals with anorexia have died as a result of committing suicide.
The feminist theory centres on the idea of supporting equality for women and men and eliminating gender stratification, for example same work income and job opportunities However the recent post-feminist culture takes feminism for “granted” and also repudiates feminism. According to Tolman (2006), it’s over simplistic and obscure to provide an account of women’s sexuality that is “either pure pressure or relentless risk”. This more optimistic view shows that this public health problem is very complex in nature.
Around the World
“Fattening hut” in Africa
Being from an African background, visiting parts of Africa I was able to see the difference in media influence. In most parts of Africa, a “fat” women is considered beautiful. This derived from generations of cultural practices that a women must be fatterend for her husband before marriage. This idea is shared amongst a lot of countries in Africa, the idea is that not only are “fatter” women more beautiful but they are seen as wealthy by the community. It’s the idea of wealth and glamour- When many people in that community see a fatter women they think that her husband is wealthy and provides for her and is able to provide enough to get her that big.
In the Video the famous Jessica Simpson goes to around the world to find what the price of beauty is. In Uganda, Africa, she finds that brides have to go to a “fattening hut” for two month.
“Lighter skin” in Asia
I have heard about Asia’s skin whitening fascination from a number of sources. One of my friends from China, told me about how a lot of Chinese people want to be lighter in complexion as they associate that will wealth, high socio status and purity. She said that the lighter your complexion is the more high your status is. The way she explained is that the darker you skin the more likely you work as a labour (farmer-out in the sun), the light your skin is the more likely you are to be working in side.
~ REFLECTION 9 ~
WEEK TEN: THE HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN
What and who is an Aboriginal? According to mainstream media and most white experts, it is a black person who lives in remote Australia, living on welfare, does not take care of their children and has many social issues. However, people who identify themselves as ‘Aboriginal’ range from dark-skinned, board- nose to blonde hair and blue eyes. Michel Foucault, a French philosopher proposed the idea of ‘materiality of discursive practices’ in which he argued ‘we identify as cultural people according to the lived experiences, ideas and practices of the dominant culture. As this is the case with Aboriginality, it is not defined by physical appearance rather by relationship to culture, community and lived experiences. Due to stereotypes a majority of light-skinned Aboriginal people face challenges on proving their identify. Over the past 200 years after colonisation the primary question of ‘who’ is an Aboriginal and ‘what’ characteristics that support and confirm any legitimate claim to be an Aboriginal person have emerged. Andrew Bolt in his column stated
“Because despite her auburn hair and charmingly freckled face, she, too, is an Aborigine”… Andrew Blot, 2009Based on this comment it is assumed that Andrew is in disbelief that an Aboriginal person can have auburn hair and a charmingly freckled faced. Like the majority of white Australians, Andrew has been raised and fostered with a stereotypical image of what an Aboriginal person is meant to look like. European settlers first constructed the identification of the ‘Aborigine’. Who believed white European male were civilised and had superior intelligence therefore belonged on the top of the global human hierarchy. Most of the misrepresentation and stereotypes of Indigenous people started back when white European settlers invaded Australia. Since then, misrepresentations have been carried from generation to generation through the media and recently social media.
Anita Heiss challenges the social construction and stereotypes of what defines an Aboriginal. She explains the diversity of Indigenous identities and concept of connection to country and culture. For most non-Indigenous people land is seen as a commodity, an asset that can be bought and sold to make profit. However, for Indigenous Australians there is a much deeper spiritual connection and every aspect of their lives connects to their land. Bob Randall, An Aboriginal elder and traditional owner of Ayre’s Rock describes his connection to his land he says, (Global Oneness Project, 2016)‘The land is my backbone… I only stand straight, happy, proud and not ashamed about my colour because I still have land… I think of land as the history of my nation.’ Ayre’s Rock
Pre-invasion, the Indigenous people were resourceful, rich in culture and practiced a rich social and economic lifestyle. They had a set system where every person had a different way in which they contributed to the wider community
I identify myself as part of the cultural interface, I am African but I am Australian, I have lived my life outside my home country for as long as I can remember. Being in this interface I start to question myself, I have always wanted to know why are black people hated and discriminated against by what seems like anyone who is not black? I have always wanted to know what makes black people different to anyone else. Why is it that when a black person commits a crime they get stereotyped and ongoing media coverage and when I white person commits the same crime they get very limited media coverage and in most cases they are said to be mentally ill and were not in the right space of mind at the time of the crime?
With such questions in the back of my mind I wanted to get some answers, I was able to learn that people are not just racist it is based on historical, cultural and ideological manifestation. The theory of critical race, explains that race is something that is socially constructed by society. Race could not have existed had we as a society not built it (Ladson-Billings, 1998). Ian Hacking explains in his monograph, The Social Construction of What? (1999) that the application of social construction is not merely to worldly items- things, kinds and facts but to our beliefs about them. Hacking emphasise that particular beliefs have been shaped by social influences (Hacking, 1999).The nation of Otherness comes into play when I try to break down humanity and the inequality we live in. the theory of otherness explains how majority and minority identities are constructed; this is because certain groups control society and have greater political power. The term other is used to describe the way people tend to view others who are dissimilar to them. To me this term explains why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are treated differently. White Australians view them as the other because white Australians just do not understand their culture, customs and tradition.
There were numerous policies of administration implement by white Europeans throughout the invasion period that has directly negatively impacted Indigenous people today (Heiss, 2014). The removal of Indigenous children has created significant poor health outcomes for. The disparities in health found within the Indigenous communities today, much of its foundation is in the past policies implemented. However these policies failed to work and instead resulted in grief, mental health, trauma and suicide.The issues affecting Indigenous women are complex and diverse thus it is imperative to understand the cultural and historical background as culture plays has enormous effect on the life humans live every day. The past policies of administration have severely impacted the lives of Indigenous. Thus, it is a vital aspect to comprehend the historical and cultural background of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be able to understand their current life. For Indigenous women, there are major disparities in health in comparison to the non-Indigenous counterpart.
~ REFLECTION 10 ~ WEEK THIRTEEN: CHILDREN BY CHOICE AMD TRUE RELATIONSHIPS -WORKSHOP
The last class for Women’s Health was an interactive workshop presented by a member from Children by Choice, True Relationships and DV connect. I found this session very interesting and educational in many different ways. Although some of the facts they stated we had already covered in class, we had the opportunity to ask questions about anything that we ever wondered or questions that we were afraid to talk about in class.
I found out that Children by Choice was established in 1972. Hearing that I realised that the 1970s were the sexual revolution and rejection of the ‘norm’ gender roles thus it made sense that the organisation was established during that time. The presenter spoke about the different types of services they provide and the fact that they are the ONLY independent pro-choice organisation is Queensland and possibly Australia. One of the things that I had limited knowledge of is the term ‘reproductive coercion’. The she explained it very well and I was able to gain an indepth understanding of the issue and how common it is in Australia.
I undertook some research after the lecture on that topic and I was able to find: in the United States, the rates of reproductive are suspected to be so large and yet so hidden that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist is recommending doctors screen for reproductive coercion alongside domestic violence. However in Australia, there is very limited research into the area and the depth of the issue yet to be understood in an Australian context.
Children by Choice states that only after 1986 a court decision was made that abortions can be lawfully provided in Queensland, only where there is a risk to the women’s physical and/or mental health if the pregnancy continues. However, abortion is still remains the only medical procedure included within the Queensland Criminal Code. Under the Queensland Criminal Code, there are three sections that women (accessing), clinicians (providing) and even clinics (providing equipment and instruments) can be prosecuted under.
I found this video, from the channel ONE WORD on you tube. 50 women responded to one word “ABORTION”, there were mixed emotions about the world as you would expect and blow are some of these response. However more than half of the women agreed that it is a women’s choice.
“A WOMEN’S RIGHT”
“CHOICE”
“CONFUSING”
“TO EACH ITS OWN”
“MURDER”
“RIGHT”
“UNFORTUNATE”
“CARELESS WITH THEIR SEXUALITY”
Around the world
In Senegal Africa, women were found killing their newborn children in some cases leaving them in the wild to starve or be eaten. The UN calls the countries laws on Abortion some of the world’s strictest- if a women wants an abortion she needs THREE DOCTORS to sign off on the procedure. As a result 38% of all women jailed in Senegal were charged with infanticide or illegal abortions. Up to 13% of all maternal death are due to illegal abortions.
- 47,000 women die each year
- According to the WHO more than 97% in Africa and 95% in Latin America of abortions are unsafe.
When a country legalises abortion there are better health outcomes for women:
- 1996 South Africa legalised Abortion- as a result death from unsafe abortions decreased by 90%
~ REFLECTION 9 ~ WEEK TEN: THE HEALTH OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN
What and who is an Aboriginal? According to mainstream media and most white experts, it is a black person who lives in remote Australia, living on welfare, does not take care of their children and has many social issues. However, people who identify themselves as ‘Aboriginal’ range from dark-skinned, board- nose to blonde hair and blue eyes. Michel Foucault, a French philosopher proposed the idea of ‘materiality of discursive practices’ in which he argued ‘we identify as cultural people according to the lived experiences, ideas and practices of the dominant culture. As this is the case with Aboriginality, it is not defined by physical appearance rather by relationship to culture, community and lived experiences. Due to stereotypes a majority of light-skinned Aboriginal people face challenges on proving their identify. Over the past 200 years after colonisation the primary question of ‘who’ is an Aboriginal and ‘what’ characteristics that support and confirm any legitimate claim to be an Aboriginal person have emerged. Andrew Bolt in his column stated
“Because despite her auburn hair and charmingly freckled face, she, too, is an Aborigine”… Andrew Blot, 2009
Based on this comment it is assumed that Andrew is in disbelief that an Aboriginal person can have auburn hair and a charmingly freckled faced. Like the majority of white Australians, Andrew has been raised and fostered with a stereotypical image of what an Aboriginal person is meant to look like. European settlers first constructed the identification of the ‘Aborigine’. Who believed white European male were civilised and had superior intelligence therefore belonged on the top of the global human hierarchy.
Most of the misrepresentation and stereotypes of Indigenous people started back when white European settlers invaded Australia. Since then, misrepresentations have been carried from generation to generation through the media and recently social media.
Anita Heiss challenges the social construction and stereotypes of what defines an Aboriginal. She explains the diversity of Indigenous identities and concept of connection to country and culture. For most non-Indigenous people land is seen as a commodity, an asset that can be bought and sold to make profit. However, for Indigenous Australians there is a much deeper spiritual connection and every aspect of their lives connects to their land. Bob Randall, An Aboriginal elder and traditional owner of Ayre’s Rock describes his connection to his land he says, (Global Oneness Project, 2016)
‘The land is my backbone… I only stand straight, happy, proud and not ashamed about my colour because I still have land… I think of land as the history of my nation.’ Ayre’s Rock
Pre-invasion, the Indigenous people were resourceful, rich in culture and practiced a rich social and economic lifestyle. They had a set system where every person had a different way in which they contributed to the wider community
I identify myself as part of the cultural interface, I am African but I am Australian, I have lived my life outside my home country for as long as I can remember. Being in this interface I start to question myself, I have always wanted to know why are black people hated and discriminated against by what seems like anyone who is not black? I have always wanted to know what makes black people different to anyone else. Why is it that when a black person commits a crime they get stereotyped and ongoing media coverage and when I white person commits the same crime they get very limited media coverage and in most cases they are said to be mentally ill and were not in the right space of mind at the time of the crime?
With such questions in the back of my mind I wanted to get some answers, I was able to learn that people are not just racist it is based on historical, cultural and ideological manifestation. The theory of critical race, explains that race is something that is socially constructed by society. Race could not have existed had we as a society not built it (Ladson-Billings, 1998). Ian Hacking explains in his monograph, The Social Construction of What? (1999) that the application of social construction is not merely to worldly items- things, kinds and facts but to our beliefs about them. Hacking emphasise that particular beliefs have been shaped by social influences (Hacking, 1999).
The nation of Otherness comes into play when I try to break down humanity and the inequality we live in. the theory of otherness explains how majority and minority identities are constructed; this is because certain groups control society and have greater political power. The term other is used to describe the way people tend to view others who are dissimilar to them. To me this term explains why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are treated differently. White Australians view them as the other because white Australians just do not understand their culture, customs and tradition.
There were numerous policies of administration implement by white Europeans throughout the invasion period that has directly negatively impacted Indigenous people today (Heiss, 2014). The removal of Indigenous children has created significant poor health outcomes for. The disparities in health found within the Indigenous communities today, much of its foundation is in the past policies implemented. However these policies failed to work and instead resulted in grief, mental health, trauma and suicide
The issues affecting Indigenous women are complex and diverse thus it is imperative to understand the cultural and historical background as culture plays has enormous effect on the life humans live every day. The past policies of administration have severely impacted the lives of Indigenous. Thus, it is a vital aspect to comprehend the historical and cultural background of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be able to understand their current life. For Indigenous women, there are major disparities in health in comparison to the non-Indigenous counterpart.