Sexuality,+Discrimination+and+Health

//sexuality, and geography affect morbidity and mortality?//
 * Student:** Jenna Grant
 * Student Number:** n8548781
 * Tutor:** Michelle Cornford
 * Topic:** //Social Identities, Physiologies and Human Health: How do gender, ethnicity,//

//__**Artifact**__//

====The cultural artifact chosen to represent the social identities topic is a political cartoon, illustrated by Mark Brincefield. The cartoon depicts three school students holding a ‘Gay-Straight Alliance’ banner, with similarly distressed facial expressions. In speech, the first student states ‘Well, the school board banned our club’, to which the second student replies ‘now where will we meet?’, to which the third student responds ‘back in the closet.’.====

====The public health issue to be discussed in relation to the cultural artifact is social identities in Australia, and how they affect morbidity and mortality. Within the topic of social identities, this wiki will focus on the morbidity and mortality of certain sexualities, in particular homosexuality. The artifact represents the issue of homosexual discrimination within current society and the obvious inequalities both culturally and socially that this group encounters. In addition to the issues that the artifact represents, the consequential health outcomes of these issues will also be discussed.====

====According to a study undertaken in 2003 by La Trobe University, 8.6% of women and 5.9% of men in Australia identify as being homosexual (1). While these figures appear quite low, evidence suggests that Australian social attitudes mostly support a heterosexual model, therefore homosexuals may feel as though they cannot be honest about their sexual identity in fear of discrimination (2).====

====Alarmingly, a community survey conducted in 2002 by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia concluded that homosexuals have a high rate of depression, anxiety, suicide, alcohol and drug abuse and other mental conditions. These figures were largely higher than the heterosexual group who were surveyed (3). Interviews and sexual health screening was undertaken on a group of homosexuals in 2007, resulting in prevalent rates of HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis, gonorrhea and various other sexually transmitted infections. More alarmingly however, most participants within this tested group were not aware of the infections and/or had not pursued medical attention (4).====

====According to a recent Australian study, the healthcare options for patients with HIV and various other sexually transmitted infections are diverse and affordable. The study also indicated that most people were educated on the risks and prevention of sexually transmitted infections, indicating that the high rate of homosexuals avoiding medical treatment is most likely due to prejudice and discrimination (5).====

====Over the past decade, researchers and theorists have noted very little improvement in the social attitudes of people towards homosexuality (6). One researcher in particular noted that while sexual diversity is gradually becoming more accepted within the widespread community, society continues to exert a social pressure on the homosexual community to stay silent, hidden and demoted (7). It can be understood that there is a distinct relationship between perceived discrimination and mental health. A reliable source suggests that discrimination is directly associated with psychological distress, impacting on overall health and well-being of the subject/s being discriminated against (7).====

====It can be assumed that due to discrimination and social prejudice, the trends of morbidity and mortality for homosexuals are affected greatly. Most recent studies on the morbidity and mortality trends for homosexuals in Australia have involved phone interviews, personal interviews, sexual health examinations and surveys (7).====

====It is essential to consider trends in Australian culture and society when attempting to comprehend and evaluate the issue of health in relation to sexual identity. A reliable source suggests that homosexual identity has been considered a sin and highly immoral in many religious and Western societies since the late 19th Century (8).====

====Homosexual identity has only recently become more widely accepted in Australian society, and a large catalyst of that being the removal of homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders, which previously medically stated that homosexuality was a sociopathic disorder (8). By presenting homosexuality as a sexual preference rather than a disease, attitudes and discrimination within the Australian healthcare system and social culture have begun to improve.====

====However, in order to make effective changes to improve the health outcomes for homosexual Australians, a review of the current healthcare systems, health promotion movements and education must be conducted. Evidence suggests that a lack of knowledge and understanding of homosexual identity culture and gender stereotyping creates homophobia in Australian healthcare systems. Reports suggest that homosexual patients often feel as though they are not treated equally, are judged, are verbally insulted, made to feel embarrassed about their sexuality and less inclined to reveal necessary details about their sexual activity behaviors to their healthcare providers (9).====

====The groups affected by the issue of sexual identity, morbidity and mortality are people who identify as homosexual, healthcare workers who associate with homosexuals, political leaders, teachers and educators, as well as the remaining community (9). It is evident that through education of the community and those who work in healthcare, homosexual inequalities can be drastically reduced. It is imperative that political leaders recognize that sexual identities, in particular homosexuality, greatly influences health outcomes among individuals and implementing educative health promotion schemes would greatly improve the issue (10). Educating the community and creating awareness of gender and sex-role stereotyping could potentially reduce homosexual discrimination within the Australian population and therefore improve morbidity and mortality rates for this group (10).====

====The artifact ultimately represents the predominating issue facing homosexual identity in current society. Discrimination against homosexual people in Australia remains widespread not only culturally, but systemically and socially as well. The artifact depicts the exact issue of ‘silencing’ and ‘segregating’ homosexuality, and serves as a visual reminder that discrimination remains present, even in school communities. Personally, I find the artifact triggers many emotions. The message being conveyed is very important, however it frustrates me that there is still such inequalities and judgment towards homosexual people in Australia. Overall, the artifact ultimately makes me feel encouraged and motivated to create positive change for this group of people. This assessment piece has made me become more aware of the issues and challenges affecting the homosexual community in Australia. Above all, understanding that society and culture greatly affect people’s attitudes and beliefs has allowed me to analyze trends of morbidity and mortality, ask questions as to the reason for these trends, and draw conclusions and potential solutions. This assessment piece and PUB209 will greatly affect my learning and thinking processes in the future. I have learnt to not only look at public health issues with an open mind, but also to critically analyze issues with consideration to culture, social constructs, social theory and historical social trends.====


 * Reference List**

Grulich, A., de Visser, R., Smith, A., Rissel, C., Richters, J. (2003). Sex in Australia: homosexual experience and recent homosexual encounters. //Australia and New Zealand Public Health, 27(2),// 155-163. Retrieved from [] Grulich, A., de Visser, R., Smith, A., Rissel, C., Richters, J. (2003). Sex in Australia: sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults. //Australia and New Zealand Public Health, 27(2),// 138-145. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14696704 Jorm, A., Korten, A., Rodgers, B., Jacomb, P., Christensen, H. (2002). Sexual orientation and mental health: results from a community survey of young and middle-aged adults. //The British Journal of Psychiatry, 180,// 432-427. DOI: 10.1192/bjp.180.5.423 Jin, F., Prestage, G., Zablotska, I., Rawstorne, P., Kippax, S., Donovan, B., Cunningham, P., Templeton, D., Kaldor, J. Grulich, A. (2007). High rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV positive homosexual men: data from two community based cohorts. //Sexually Transmitted Infections, 83,// 397-399. doi:10.1136/sti.2007.025684 Gilleatt, S. (2000). Uptake of HIV testing and treatment in an isolated population with access to free and universal healthcare. //International Journal of STD & AIDS, 11(5),// 303. Retrieved from [] Perez-Testor, C., Behar, J. Davins, M., Sala, J.L.C., Castillo, J., Salamera, M. (2010). Teachers’ attitudes and beliefs about homosexuality. //Spanish Journal of Psychology, 13(1),// 138. Retrieved from [] Vogt Yuan, A. (2007). Perceived Age Discrimination and Mental Health. //Social Forces, 86(1),// 291-311. Retrieved from [] Bynum, B. (2002). Homosexuality. //The Lancet, 359(9325),// 2284. Retrieved from [] [] Sirota, T. (2013). Attitudes Among Nurse Educators Toward Homosexuality. //Journal of Nursing Education, 52(4),// 219-227. Retrieved from [] Whitley, B. (2001). Gender-role variables and attitudes toward homosexuality. //Sex Roles, 45(12),// 691-721. Retrieved from []
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