This document is a homework assignment on gender and health from Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia. It contains 4 questions and the student's responses. The first question defines reproductive health according to the UNFPA. The second question analyzes why more Japanese men in middle age commit suicide, citing reasons like isolation, unemployment, and the insurance system. The third question discusses why women live longer than men globally. It refers to two academic articles, stating that men have riskier lifestyles and women's chromosomal differences provide advantages. The fourth question interviews family about differences in caring for babies. Relatives said Cambodian parents give boys more care as they will lead families and work outside

1. សាកលវិទ្យាល័យបញ្ញា សាស្រ្តកម្ពុជា
Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia (PUC)
Gender Studies
ジェンダー学
Homework 1: Gender and Health
Prof. Kasumi Nakagawa
Som Oeurn Mao
ID: 135908 / GROUP 9
3

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Gender and Power by Kasumi 24 April 2018
1. What is the definition of Reproductive health? Check UNFPA/WHO
web-site and quote the UN definition.
Reproductive health refers to a state of complete physical and
psychosocial comfort, closeness and social well-being, and it does not
associated with disease, abuse, exploitation, unwanted pregnancy and
death. People have ability to reproduce and have freedom to make
decision on what they do and how often they are able to have a
satisfying and safe sex life including sexual health, the purpose of
which is the enhancement of life and personal relations (UNFPA,
2018).
2. In Japan, more than 20,000 people committed suicide and 70% of
them were men (women 30%). The majority of those who committed
suicide amongst Japanese men were in their 40’s and 50’s. Analyze,
why more men in the middle age generation commit suicide?
According to Rupert Winggfield-Hays, BBC News, Tokyo, published
on July 03, 2015, more men in the middle age generation commit
suicide because of the following reasons (Wingfield-Hayes, 2015):
o Isolation and neglect from kids
o Honorable suicide (Japan’s long tradition)
o Unemployment
o Financial troubles
o Taking responsibility whenever failing mission (not a sin)
o The insurance system in Japan is very lax when it comes to
paying out for suicide; therefore, when all else fails - some people
feel killing themselves and the insurance will pay out.
3. All over the world, except war zone, women live much longer than men.
This means women are healthier than men, or physically stronger than
men? Or, do you think there are other factors that enable women to
live longer? Explain your ideas, by referring to at least 2 academic
articles (not FB or not newspaper article).
Instruction
 Type your answer to the questions below and submit your homework on
4 May to the group leader.
 Avoid plagiarism.

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According to one of Thomas Kirkwood’s academic articles published
on November 01, 2010, it stated that men drive themselves to an early
grave because of all the hardship and stress of their working lives, and
their lifestyles such as smoking and drinking can also cause them die
earlier comparing to the women. In contrast, women may live longer
because they develop healthier habits than men—for example,
smoking and drinking less and choosing a better diet (Kirkwood,
2010).
In addition, if we read another academic article of David Robson
published on October 02, 2015, it also said that men are more abusive
of their bodies comparing to the woman. Because they drink and
smoke more heavily, it may cause size of the gender gap varies so
widely. For example, Russian men are likely to die 13 years earlier than
Russian women (Robson, 2015) .
Last but not least, if we go through another academic article of Mark
E. Williams published on Feb 04, 2017, it stated that woman can live
longer because of chromosomal differences between men and women.
Women have two X chromosomes so that a female with an abnormal
gene on one of her X chromosomes can use the normal gene on the other
to avoid disease, but men have only one X chromosome and one Y
chromosome, thus they cannot rely on an alternative chromosome if a
gene on one of the sex chromosomes is defective (Williams, 2017).
4. During a baby is small, do Cambodian mother/father treat a boy baby
anda baby girl in a different way (in terms of breastfeeding, taking care
of a baby, brining him/her to a hospital, etc.)? Ask your family
members (parents, aunts/uncles and grandparents) and get some
actual practices in Cambodian society in bringing up a baby.
As I have interviewed my auntie’s family when they had a small baby,
they said that they gave more care to a baby boy comparing to a baby
girl because of the following reasons:
o A baby boy has to be strong because he will be the head of family
in the future and responsible for his own family, so health is the
important key for his success.
o While working outside, s baby boy will use more physical
comparing to a baby girl.
o He will be the root of family in term of continuing the family
name and family cycle.

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References
Kirkwood, T. (2010, Nov 01). SCINENTIFIC AMERICAN. Retrieved from
https://www.scientificamerican.com:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-women-live-longer/
Robson, D. (2015, October 02). BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com:
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20151001-why-women-live-longer-than-
men
UNFPA. (2018, January). Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org:
https://www.unfpa.org/sexual-reproductive-health
Williams, M. E. (2017, Feb 04). Psychology Today. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-art-and-science-aging-
well/201702/why-do-women-live-longer-men
Wingfield-Hayes, R. (2015, July 03). BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-33362387