gender sensitive issues in occupational health

8/3/2019 Gender Sensitive Issues in Occupational Health

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SEMINAR ON

GENDER SENSITIVE ISSUES


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Gender Sensitivity in Occupational

Health: as an Issue for

Life Quality and Work Efficiency


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Why gender sensitivity

in occupational health?


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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


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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 ones voice

continuously

Women

Technical workplaces

Mechanical noise

Hearing impairment,

stress, accidents or

near-accidents


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Further examples of gender-specific health risks at work

Women:client-oriented jobs.

Job Profiles

Men in technical andmanual work.

Women in the care sector.

Health risk: being exposed

to aggression, violence and

sexual harassment leadingto psychosocial complaints

Health risk: exposure

to traditional physical

risk factors such aschemicals, noise,

radiation, and heat

Health risk: ergonomically

poor working conditions,resulting in

musculoskeletal disorders


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Health risk: injuries, psychosocial

complaints


Women: part-time jobs,having to adapt working

hours 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


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Womens 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


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What is gender-sensitive

occupational health?


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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 bothwomen and men

Recognizes the need for full

participation of women and men in risk

assessment and priority setting


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Gender bias needs to be analysedand documented. It can occur in the

official organisation or unofficially

at the interpersonal level;

it can be hidden (covert)or expressed openly (overt).


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A working mother is a strong

survivor and problem-solver;

she is a good investment

Positive Images of

Female Workers

Negative Stereotypes

ofFemale Workers

A double burden may bringdouble 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, evading

responsibility

Complaining and dissatisfaction

Low work motivation, women quarrel,

cant work as a team

Working for pin money only; in reality

work is a must for most

Working on the familys terms, not

committed fully to work

The combination work-home as a

double burden


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Aims of Gender Sensitivity

in Occupational Health


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Aims of gender sensitivityin occupational health:

To improve the quality of work life

for both women and men

To improve the balance

between work and private life

for all employees

To recognize the importance ofthe study of gender differences in

screening, diagnosis and

management of health conditions

To reduce work-related health

risks and complaints of womenand men

To emphasize the global view and

significance of multiple exposures,

both physical and psychological

To improve the effectiveness of the

occupational health care system

To promote well-being

and work satisfaction

To recognize the diversity of

womens and mens health needs

over the life-cycle

To improve the work ability of both

men 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


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Aims of gender sensitivityin occupational health:

Gender based research

Gender Sensitivity in

Occupational 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 beheard out

Pointing out the special

health risks of female-dominated

jobs and stressing their

importance in occupational

health careGender mainstreaming inoccupational 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]

gender sensitive issues in occupational health

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