Psychology in today's society Conference Venue: Fisher's Hotel, Pitlochry Scottish Branch
From: 26 Nov 2004 To: 28 Nov 2004
Non Peer Reviewed
Gendered understandings of responsibility for sexual health: continuing inequalities in the twenty first century?
Glasgow Caledonian University
Paul Flowers <Glasgow Caledonian University>
Glasgow Caledonian University
A screening programme (targeted primarily at young, sexually active women) has recently been introduced in an effort to reduce rates of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) Chlamydia Trachomatis. This paper describes two qualitative studies which explored the potential psychosocial impact of such a screening programme among Scottish heterosexuals. One to one interviews were conducted with 17 women. These sought to explore the meaning of a Chlamydia diagnosis. Five focus groups (n=20) were carried out with men, which aimed to elicit understandings of sexual health. Data was analysed utilising a combination of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis and Foucauldian discourse analysis. Results revealed the persistence of gendered inequalities in perceptions of responsibility and culpability for sexual health, with participants of both sexes perceiving women, as opposed to men, as both responsible for the maintenance of good sexual health and culpable for sexual ill health (i.e. STIs). The Foucauldian perspective illuminates the implications of these potential gender inequalities for health promotion in sexual health. It argues that the positioning of women as responsible (and men as inherently irresponsible) for sexual health disadvantages both sexes and that more attention must be paid to the mechanisms by which gender inequalities are produced and maintained. Both the UK wide chlamydia screening policy and the new Sexual Health and Well Being Strategy for Scotland are considered with reference to these issues.
