Questions

1. In one of our lectures as well as our readings during the first week of class emphasized the fact that culturally we focus on the biomedical model and technological favoritism. Define the biomedical model and provide at least two criticisms of this model. How is the biomedical model related to technological favoritism? How does the emphasis on technology impact doctor patient interactions?

2. What does it mean to say that health/ill health or illness is socially constructed? What is medicalization? Please provide two examples of conditions that have been medicalized.

3. What are the key issues highlighted in each of the phases that Rosser discusses (week 1 reading)? Why is it problematic if women’s health is only viewed as reproductive health? What do we miss?

4. What are four explanations for gender differences in health? Give a description of each of these explanations.

5. Based on our readings and supplemental materials, provide at least two reasons why women are disadvantaged socioeconomically relative to their male counterparts. What impact do socioeconomic inequalities, specifically living in poverty, have on women’s health (please provide at least three examples)? Finally, explain how socioeconomic status can be a fundamental cause of disease.

6. What is the representation of women at the top levels of medical schools and research centers? Why do we see this continued inequality despite more women entering into the field of medicine? How might we create more equality in terms of getting women into these positions of power?

7. What are three fears associated with medical students performing their first pelvic examination? How were medical students taught to give pelvic examinations historically? Describe the GTA program and the advantages of this training over the historical methods of instruction on giving a pelvic exam. What challenges might the GTA face?

8. Suppose you are a medical sociologist that has been asked to go before Congress and give a speech on the status of lesbian health and health care access today. What issues would you highlight in your discussion in terms of how lesbians’ health is different from that of heterosexual women (provide at least three examples with descriptions)? You can include ways in which lesbians’ health may be advantaged and disadvantaged relative to their heterosexual counterparts. Why is it problematic if we simply lump lesbian women in with heterosexual women and/or assume all women are heterosexual?

9. Stevens (1996) explored the interactions that lesbian women had with health care providers. Discuss three solidarity building strategies and three domination practices that the women experienced. With each of these, be sure to explain the strategy and provide an example. What are three ways in which health care providers can assume a more inclusive and less homophobic approach to treating clients (Wilton and Kaufmann)?

10. Explain the Reproductive Justice framework. What are the three main tenants of this framework? How is the Reproductive Justice framework related to human rights? What has been problematic about focusing on “choice” and relying on litigation to achieve women’s reproductive rights?

11. What did the Hyde Amendment do? How has it expanded over time? How has the Hyde Amendment established abortion as a class privilege?

12. What is neoliberalism? How does neoliberalism harm women, children, and communities in the U.S.? How did this ultimately impact women’s “choice”?

13. What are the risks associated with mammograms? Please provide at least five risks. Be sure to be specific and give detailed explanations and/or examples for each risk associated with mammograms (lecture).

14. How is care work femininized/tied to femininity? How can care work be harmful to women? Sulik describes a “balancing act” that women with breast cancer must navigate. What/how do women negotiate care work for the self when suffering from breast cancer?

15. Participants in Bell’s study talked about the “loudness” of breast cancer and that survivorship has been “breast-cancer-ized”. What does this mean? How has breast cancer and pink ribbon culture informed the experiences of Bell’s participants with their own cancer? Be sure to use specific examples.