how social-Ecological Factors impact womxn's health and human rights

1/27/2020

Three different social-ecological factors that commonly impact a girl’s identity, health, and economic growth can be described through the levels of individual, interpersonal, and institutional using the social ecological model. For example, a social component of the ecological model could involve that women are discriminated against when they become pregnant at a very young age. Depending on the area she is in, she is taken less seriously in western culture. In most cases, if a young lady becomes pregnant while she is in high school/ college, she is immediately shut out of society. She is seen as weak and worthless, which ties into my next example. Secondly, the institutional component can relate to the workplace, and if the young mother to be is working and finds out she is pregnant, she does not have many benefits. Men have an easier time because companies will never have to worry about them becoming pregnant, or them lacking at work because of back pains or cramps. With the lack of support from her job, can leave her feeling hopeless and stressed out, which is not suitable for her health, and leaving her financially unstable. She is less likely to be able to get another job while pregnant because of the time off she will need after giving birth. Lastly, the interpersonal component deals with family, partner, and friends. If her family and friends support her through finding out, she is pregnant could make her feel secure in thriving as a parent. If her partner shuts her out and decides to leave because it is too much pressure to raise a child, it could also leave her in a vulnerable and stressful position raising a child alone with no support.

After watching the video presentation, “Socioecological Model of Health” by Dr. Marjory Ruderman from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, I have a better understanding of the determinants of health. Education relates to health status under the broad, social, economic, cultural, health, and environment conditions and policies at state and local levels. Depending on where you live in America, it is mandatory that by age 4/5, you will begin kindergarten and continue education for the next 14 years (senior in High School). Civilians pay taxes that go to the states which allow children to go to public school for free. If you did not grow up in a middle class to the upper-class household, this was not always the reality to make it to Senior year. Not being able to go to school, disadvantages them with knowing the basics of nutrition and exercise, could be detrimental for their overall health. As Dr. Early writes in Model 3.4 by “educating a girl, evidence has shown us that she will improve her health, well-being, and prosperity of her family, and the community.” I would say that my health status is secure because of how my ancestors took it upon themselves to make sure the men and women in the family were educated. My mother was raised to value nutrition and natural medicine, to the point that it is also my passion to prioritize my health. Also, being educated allows me to access the resources to have annual doctor checkups, dental appointments, and even counseling sessions. The more I learn, the more I thrive and use the knowledge I gain to help myself and others succeed.

References:

Miller, R. (2013, June 27). An Introduction to the Ecological Model in Public
Health.Video posted to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhUxOZRn_4E

(J.Daly, Address the Root Causes of Gender Inequality and the Impact of Education and Social Change, January 2020)

By Jaya Cross

9 Comments

Claire Budge

1/28/2020 04:18:05 pm

Hey Jaya

I like your example of someone who becomes pregnant at a young age for the socio-ecological model. Having a child presents many struggles for a woman professionally, socially, and to her health at any age, but when they are younger it presents a whole other level of difficulties and judgement from others. I would guess then that many of the struggles the mother then faces would also impact the child, financial and social disadvantages could impact their learning and health furthering the cycle especially if the child is a girl.

Claire Budge

1/28/2020 04:19:46 pm

Hey Jaya! I like your example of someone who becomes pregnant at a young age for the socio-ecological model. Having a child presents many struggles for a woman professionally, socially, and to her health at any age, but when they are younger it presents a whole other level of difficulties and judgement from others. I would guess then that many of the struggles the mother then faces would also impact the child, financial and social disadvantages could impact their learning and health furthering the cycle especially if the child is a girl.

Megan Pintok

1/29/2020 02:34:17 pm

Hi Jaya, thank you for sharing your blog post. The example of a young pregnant girl is a great example as far as considering how she is sunned from society and seen as a irresponsible and shamed. Mentally and emotionally, the girl not only struggles with work but may face depression and major stress. Men do not have to worry about having children and feel they have the option to leave the situation in which they put a woman through. I agree by educating more women, they will become empowered by being able to know their bodies and take of themselves responsibly.

Lena Angelica Camacho

1/30/2020 11:41:16 am

Hi Jaya!
I really like the point you made about women and pregnancy as a socioecological factor. I still think it's crazy and very unfair if a job decides to discriminate against a women if she ends up getting pregnant. It totally contradicts the society's pressure for women to become mothers because most don't have the luxury to be stay at home mothers. And even if they do receive maternity leave most of the time it isn't long enough and there's no guarantee it will be paid either.

Haley Barton

1/30/2020 01:50:10 pm

Hello Jaya, I found your post to be very relatable as I had a child a little over a year ago and have experienced many of these discriminations. As I prepare to graduate college, I am having to decide whether I want to stay home and have my second child or start my career. I do find it disheartening that this is an issue that men will never have to face. The stress of facing professional repercussions from having to take maternity leave makes me consider putting off my career all together. It is a very tough decision to make.

Hannah Berg

1/31/2020 12:21:24 pm

Hi Jaya!
I think you provided an excellent example as to how the individual, institutional and interpersonal socio-ecological factors combine to devalue a women's pregnancy experience. When age is specifically factored into the model, outcomes can potentially be more extreme due to social norms and the stigma associated with being a young mother. I think something that we also need to acknowledge is how these systemic burdens create stress on the mother and ultimately affect the child as well. There can be dire lifelong impacts on the child especially if the woman has been beaten down by this system to the point where she resorts to risky health behaviors, and the child no longer has a stable upbringing or support they need to be healthy. It sets them up at a disadvantage that can permeate throughout their experiences in life. Now, if this phenomenon that robs women of their right to humanity occurs around the world, I just think how many people are adversely affected by it down the line. Similar to the outcomes of educating women, the impact extends beyond the act of education.

Wes Nakour

2/1/2020 09:43:45 am

Hey Jaya, thank you for sharing! Discrimination among women who are pregnant at a young age is a real social issue, and I am glad you addressed this specifically in western culture, especially when it comes to work and the stressful fact that there is no paid leave or little to no benefits in the workplace for pregnant women and time off. In many other places in the world, paid leave is mandatory and a special thing to have when going through this sensitive stage in life.

Muhhamed Muhhamed

2/8/2020 09:51:27 am

Hello Jaya,
I enjoyed reading your post and it was a great example that you used about becoming pregnant at a young age and the different challenges it comes with. I have seen plenty of women get abortion solely based on the stigma and being labeled by so many different people. We need to e supportive of one another because we don't know what the person is going through.

Raiye Abuni

3/7/2020 08:39:25 pm

Hello Jaya,

After reading your blog post I felt some parts truly connect with how stigma and societal views heavily impact an individual. When you explained, "depending on the area she is in, she is taken less seriously in western culture. In most cases, if a young lady becomes pregnant while she is in high school/college, she is immediately shut out of society," I felt this has a lot to do with the stigma as well as how certain communities or cultures again view pregnancy within a specific age range. I know in the East African culture, most young women who are pregnant are in fact taken out of school and made sure they were taken care of at home. Traditionally, it isn't something that's accepted. This still remains to be a global public health issue.

how social-Ecological Factors impact womxn's health and human rights

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