The Impact of Women’s Work on Gendered Health Inequities

ABSTRACT

How does the work that American women perform, both in the formal economy (paid labor) and in the caring economy (caring for children and households) negatively affect their health? The World Health Organization’s social determinants of health model is used to illuminate the causes of gendered health inequities. The social determinants of gendered health inequities that are correlated with women’s work include globalization, cultural norms, an imbalance of power between men and women, the feminization of work, the gendered pay gap, unequal responsibilities in the caring economy, the lack of recognition of the value of caring work, stress, and poverty.

KEYWORDS:

• Disparities
• social determinants of health
• unpaid work
• work-family
• caring economy

Acknowledgments

I gratefully acknowledge Dr. Jeffrey Johnson at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing for challenging me to think critically and inspiring me to work to reduce health inequities and advocate for social justice.