Gender and health : the effects of constrained choices and social policies

Select an Action

Title:

Author:

Bird, Chloe E.

ISBN:

9780521864152

9780521682800

Personal Author:

Bird, Chloe E.

Publication Information:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Physical Description:

xv, 256 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.

Contents:

Gender differences in health: are they biological, social, or both? -- Gender and barriers to health: constrained choice in everyday decisions -- National social policies and constrained choice -- The impact of community on health -- Priorities and expectations: men's and women's work, family life, and health -- Gender and individual health choices -- Opportunities for change.

Subject Term:

Sex factors in disease.

Health -- Sex differences.

Added Author:

Rieker, Patricia Perri.

Electronic Access:

Publisher description http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0729/2007029943-d.html
Table of contents only http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0803/2007029943-t.html
Contributor biographical information http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0806/2007029943-b.html

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168025401015	362.108 B618G 2008	1	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Chloe Bird and Patricia Rieker argue that to improve men's and women's health, individuals, researchers, and policymakers must understand the social and biological sources of the perplexing gender differences in illness and longevity. Although individuals are increasingly aware of what they should do to improve health, competing demands for time, money, and attention discourage or prevent healthy behavior. Drawing on research and cross-national examples of family, work, community, and government policies, the authors develop a model of constrained choice that addresses how decisions and actions at each of these levels shape men's and women's health-related opportunities. Understanding the cumulative impact of their choices can inform individuals at each of these levels how to better integrate health implications into their everyday decisions and actions. Their platform for prevention calls for a radical reorientation of health science and policy to help individuals pursue health and to lower the barriers that may discourage that pursuit.