Transgender+lives+-+the+real+health+identity

Samantha Hamilton 08802246 Steve Badman

**IS SOCIETY MAKING US SICK? ** At some point we have to accept responsibility for our own actions when it comes to our health. However, are there driving factors stronger than our own will power to resist and intelligence to know better?

Killermann, S. (2012). The Genderbread Person V2.0

Cultural artefact
The Genderbread Person is an image created by Sam Killermann who operates an online blog as a social advocate for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) people. The image aims to clearly depict the different parts of a person that together make up an identity. These are the socially constructed gender identity and expression of that identity, biological and physiological sex, and sexual orientation. This then brings about the notion that gender, sex and sexuality aren’t necessarily binary, in that there is more than one of two options and that a persons identity can be explained using a continuum of varying expressions (Killerman, 2012).

Public health issue
The majority of the members of society hold either a rigid perspective or a perspective based on misunderstandings, which is formed by their individual social context, about gender identity and the expression of that identity, biological and physiological sex and sexual orientation. These perspectives marginalise Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) people; which then influences the participation in a myriad of health risk behaviours and results in poorer health outcomes.

Literature review
Private Lives is a survey conducted by the Gay and Lesbian Health organisation in Victoria. The report publishes findings about the national health and wellbeing of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Australians.

// General and physical health // According to the second report that was published in 2012 self-rated general health amongst Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) females is reportedly lower than that of the general female population who’s self-rated general health stands at 68.2% and similarly for males where the general male populations self-rated general health stands at 68.3% (Leonard et al., 2012).

Females and males aged 15 to 24 years that identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) were less likely to rate their general health as very good/excellent compared to females and males of the same age bracket in the general population (Leonard et al., 2012).

(Leonard et al,. 2012)

The percentage of males who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) that are obese is 21% which is slightly lower than the general male populations rate of obesity which is 25%. However, the percentage of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) females that are obese is 32.9% which is higher than the general female populations rate of 24% (Leonard et al., 2012).

(Leonard et al,. 2012)

The health conditions reported by people who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) that they had been diagnosed with or treated for within the last three years include:
 * Depression, anxiety and nervous disorders
 * Psychological distress and psychiatric disorders
 * Asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other respiratory disorders
 * Sexually transmitted infections
 * Low iron levels
 * Hypertension
 * Chronic diseases (ie. Diabetes and arthritis)
 * Chronic fatigue syndrome
 * Cancer
 * Heart disease
 * Stroke
 * Thrombosis (Leonard et al., 2012)

// Mental health and wellbeing // There have been numerous studies and research into the mental health of people who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ).

(Leonard et al., 2012)

The K10 scale for psychological distress ranges from 0 to 50 with a higher score indicating poorer mental health. The mean score for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) people was 19.59 indicating poorer mental health compared to the general populations score of 14.5 (Leonard et al., 2012).

(Leonard et al., 2012)

The SF36 mental health subscale ranges from 1 to 100 with a higher score indicating better mental health. The mean score for people who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) was 69.49 compared to males and females of the general population who score 75.3 and 73.5, respectively (Leonard et al., 2012).

The report found that 90% of people who identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) have hidden their sexuality or gender identity at some point in time for fear of violence or discrimination in the following locations:
 * Work
 * Home
 * Family
 * Educational institution
 * Services
 * Religious events
 * Social events
 * In public (Leonard et al., 2012)

Levels and types of discrimination, violence and harassment included:
 * Non-physical abuse
 * Verbal abuse
 * Harassment
 * Threats of physical violence
 * Written threats
 * Physical abuse
 * Sexual assault
 * Physical violence
 * Damage to property
 * Theft (Leonard et al., 2012)

Cultural and social analysis
A persons identity is socially constructed by their individual:
 * Socioeconomic position
 * Education/occupation
 * Geographic location
 * Gender, sex & sexuality
 * Race, ethnicity & culture/religion
 * Morals/values
 * Age (Carroll, 2013)

It is when a person chooses to create an identity that differs from their expected socially constructed identity, that moral panics arise (Dwyer, 2013).

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) people do exactly this. Through the use of semiotics that signal the social groups that they identify with, such as:
 * Clothing and accessories (including jewellery)
 * Hair
 * Makeup
 * Sex and sexual activities (Fischer, 1977)

and symbolic skins that depict the social conduct and mannerisms of the social groups that they identify with, such as:
 * Smoking
 * Alcohol consumption
 * Drug use
 * Gambling (Leonard et al., 2012)

they establish and evolve a social identity and expression of that identity that is different from what is expected of them.

It is this feeling of otherness that Karl Marx theorised about, where the majority social group is threatened by the differences/separateness, and therefore seeks to dominate and exploit the minority social group. This inequality between social groups within society develops an increase in the minority group being socially disadvantaged, which then decreases their general health and results in an increase in rates of morbidity and mortality (Turrell, 2013).

A focus on the acceptance of a socially constructed identity that changes and evolves will reduce the impact of psychosocial barriers and eventually decrease the prevalence of illness, disease and death amongst Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer (GLBTIQ) people.

Artefact analysis and learning reflection
The Genderbread person graphically depicts the different parts of a person that together make up an individuals identity. It also brings about the notion that gender identity and expression of that identity, biological and physiological sex, and sexual orientation aren’t necessarily binary and that a persons identity can be explained using a continuum of varying expressions.

When exploring this concept within a social context and in relation to statistical health information and data it is evident that identifying as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and/or Queer (GLBTIQ) is NOT the cause of the majority of health concerns. Infact, it is the rigid and misunderstood perspectives of society making us sick!

Reference list
Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria. (Leonard et al., 2012). //Private Lives 2: The second// // national survey of the health and wellbeing of GLBT Australians //. Retrieved September 3, 2013, from http://www.glhv.org.au/report/private-lives-2-report

Killermann, S. (2013). The genderbread person. Retrieved September 23, 2013, from http://itspronouncedmetrosexual.com/2012/03/the-genderbread-person-v2-0/

Dwyer, A. (2013) PUB209 Health, Culture and Society: lecture seven [Lecture notes]. Retrieved from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_4_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2FcourseMain%3Fcourse_id%3D_104727_1

Turrell, G. (2013). PUB209 Health, Culture and Society: lecture six [Lecture notes]. Retrieved from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_4_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2FcourseMain%3Fcourse_id%3D_104727_1

Carroll, J-A. (2013). PUB209 Health, Culture and Society: lecture one [Lecture notes]. Retrieved from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-4958882-dt-content-rid-1061746_1/courses/PUB209_13se2/Introduction%20to%20Health%2C%20Culture%2C%20and%20Society%20FINAL%20VERSION%202013.pdf

Carroll, J-A. (2013). PUB209 Health, Culture and Society: lecture three [Lecture notes]. Retrieved from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-4966473-dt-content-rid-1079649_1/courses/PUB209_13se2/Lecture%20Three%20Social%20Determinants%20of%20Health%20and%20Social%20Theory%20Dr%20J%20Carroll%202013.pdf

Carroll, J-A. (2013). PUB209 Health, Culture and Society: lecture eight [Lecture notes]. Retrieved from http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-4992008-dt-content-rid-1254363_1/courses/PUB209_13se2/Sex%20Gender%20and%20Health%20PUB209.pdf

Fischer, H. (1977). Gay Semiotics. Retrieved October 29, 2013, from http://www.queerculturalcenter.org/Pages/HalPages/GaySempg2.html

The video you used as the cultural artefact was intense and superb in the way it depicted the before and after of drug use. I never thought of the economic impact drug use has on communities and countries alike, so that was very interesting. (Emily Fitzpatrick)

I liked that your cultural artefact showed the issue in a light-hearted yet still very informative way, as this would improve peoples attention to the subject. Your literature review was very detailed swell. (Lauren Smithson)