gender sensitivity in occupational health
TRANSCRIPT
EWHNETThe European Women's
Health Network (EWHNET) was founded in 1997 as a project in the Medium-TermCommunity ActionProgramme on Equal
Opportunities for Women and Men and was supported by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Seniors, Women and Youth.
Gender Sensitivity in Occupational Health: as an Issue for
Life Quality and Work Efficiency
Gender sensitivity in occupational health: as an issue
for life quality and work efficiency
Gender-sensible Strategies in Occupational Health
Visibility
Equal OpportunitiesCo-operation
Working Group on Occupational Health of the European
Women’s Health Network (EWHNET)
Why gender sensitivity in occupational health?
Why gender sensitivityin occupational health?
To accomplish equity in the field of work and health
To identify gender-specific health risks at work
Women make up 42% of the EU work force
To develop appropriate methods, tools, procedures and strategies to deal with gender-specific health risks at work
Occupational gender segregation is strong
Men and woman are exposed to different workplace environ-ments and different types of demands and strains
Example: Noise as a health risk
Where?
Noise is seen as a predominantly male occupational health risk. A gender-sensitive approach reveals another image:
Schools (lower grades), kindergarten, day care centers
Men
What?
Health risk:
Clamour from shouting, crying and loud voices
Stress, fatigue, concentration and related disorders The vocal cords can be damaged from having to raise one’s voice continuously
Women
Technical work places
Mechanical noise
Hearing impairment, stress, accidents ornear-accidents
Further examples of gender-specific health risks at work
Women: client-oriented jobs.
Job Profiles
Men in technical and manual work.
Women in the care sector.
Health risk: being exposed to aggression, violence and sexual harassment leadingto psychosocial complaints
Health risk: exposure to traditional physicalrisk factors such as chemicals, noise, radiation, and heat
Health risk: ergonomically poor working conditions, resulting in musculoskeletal disorders
Health risk: injuries, psychosocial complaints
Further examples of gender-specific health risks at work
Women: part-time jobs, having to adapt workinghours to family needs.
Working HoursWomen: sexual harassment.
Men: full-time jobs, less satisfaction with work-home balance
Violence and Danger
Men: physical danger (accidents, aggression).
Source: 3rd European Survey on Gender and Working Conditions, 2000
Health risk: poor control, low status, which are psychosocial risk factors for stress and cardiovascular diseases
Health risk: psychosocial problems and stress
Health risk: psychosocial disorders such as fatigue, headache and stress
Further examples of gender-specific health risks at work
Women’s occupational
settings have multiple
stressors, when
considered together
they contribute to high
levels of stress and illness
responsibility to the well-being of others
responsibility to multiple supervisors
unpredictable schedules
lack of social support
sex discrimination, unfair treatment
low remuneration
What is gender-sensitiveoccupational health?
What is gender-sensitiveoccupational health?
Takes into consideration the need for gender equality as well as the need to protect both female and male workers
A Gender-sensitive Approach in Occupational Health
Takes into account the diversity concerning generation, ethnicity, culture, life-style, sexual orientation,and socio-economic status
Acknowledges that certain health problems are unique to or have more serious implications for either women or men
Takes into account the differences in social position between men and women and their health consequences
Breaks through stereotype images of femininity and masculinity
Gives equal weight to knowledge, values and experiences of both women and men
Recognizes the need for full participation of women and men in risk assessment and priority setting
What is gender-sensitiveoccupational health?
Gender bias needs to be analysed and documented. It can occur in the
official organisation or unofficially at the interpersonal level;
it can be hidden (covert) or expressed openly (overt).
What is gender-sensitiveoccupational health?
A working mother is a strong survivor and problem-solver;she is a good investment
Positive Images ofFemale Workers
Negative Stereotypesof Female Workers
A double burden may bring double joy; a positive way of combining different spheres of life can also benefit work life
45+ the second “forties” career,a new beginning, new enthusiasm;age management is worthwhile
Caring for and connecting people
Low career expectations, evadingresponsibility
Complaining and dissatisfaction
Low work motivation, women quarrel,can’t work as a team
Working for pin money only; in reality work is a must for most
Working on the family’s terms, not committed fully to work
The combination work-home as a double burden
Aims of Gender Sensitivityin Occupational Health
Aims of gender sensitivityin occupational health:
To improve the quality of work lifefor both women and men
To improve the balance between work and private life for all employees
To recognize the importance of the study of gender differences inscreening, diagnosis and management of health conditions
To reduce work-related health risks and complaints of women and men
To emphasize the global view andsignificance of multiple exposures,both physical and psychological
To improve the effectiveness of theoccupational health care system
To promote well-being and work satisfaction
To recognize the diversity of women’s and men’s health needs over the life-cycle
To improve the work ability of bothmen and women
To use a gender-specific approach when needed
To compile more systematic descriptions of sex similarities and differentials in health risks, exposures and health consequences
Aims of gender sensitivityin occupational health:
Gender based research
Gender Sensitivity inOccupational Health Needs
Gender-specific health monitoring
Training in gender-based analysis
Gendered guidelines
Benchmarking
Multidisciplinary approach
Equal participation of women and men, both have to be heard out
Pointing out the special health risks of female-dominated jobs and stressing their importance in occupational health care
Gender mainstreaming in occupational health policies
These posters reflect part of the results of an international workshop 'Trends in Women and Work, Opportunities for Occupational Health' organised by the EWHNET Working Group on Occupational Health, October 2000.Information about the Working Group, contact: Dr. Kaisa Kauppinen, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), Finland. [email protected], contact: Ute Sonntag, Email: [email protected]