8.5 Structural Sexism and Health

LO 8.5: Describe how structural sexism affects health.

Sexism consists of prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviors directed toward individuals or groups based on their perceived sex or gender. Sexism is often viewed as the attitudes and actions of individuals. In other words, sexism is something individuals do to others. If they change their attitudes and behaviors, then sexism will end. However, sexism is also structural. Structural sexism is how gender inequality is embedded in social systems.

Earlier in the chapter, gender structure theory was introduced, which helps explain gender health disparities. Homan (2019), for example, asks: “How does the inequitable distribution of power and resources characterizing the gender structure of a society shape the health of its members?” (p. 488). Homan analyzed how structural sexism at the macro, meso, and micro levels affects men’s and women’s health. Her analysis of the macro level focused on how social institutions distribute power and resources along gender lines. She found that states with more extensive gender stratification had structural sexism. Moreover, structural sexism negatively affects the health of men and women.

Homan (2019) examined health using three measures: the number of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, the level of self-rated health (ranging from poor to excellent), and the quality of physical functioning. She used six measures to assess macro-structural sexism, encompassing the economic, political, cultural, and physical/reproductive dimensions, as summarized in Figure 8.8. As macro-structural sexism increases, health declines for men and women.

Research finds multiple explanations for structural sexism’s effects on health. For example, structural sexism is correlated with employment, health insurance, and paid sick leave. Employers of women in sex-segregated occupations are less likely to provide health insurance coverage (Hodges, 2020). Health insurance is essential for access to preventive care (McMorrow et al., 2014) and prescription medications (Seo et al., 2019). Less access to employer-provided health insurance is an economic factor related to employment in a sex-segregated occupation, and one that has health-related consequences.

Photo 8.15

Structural Sexism Negatively Effects the Health of Men and Women

Young woman suffering from… [Photograph]. pixelshot via Canva Pro.