Gender refers to the social aspects and relationships associated with being male or female as defined by a given society. These aspects and relationships are socially constructed through socialization processes from infancy onward. A person's gender affects what is expected of them and what opportunities are available. In most societies there are inequalities between men and women in responsibilities, activities, access to resources, and decision-making power. Gender equality seeks equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities regardless of sex. Achieving gender equality could positively impact health outcomes by allowing women and men to make more equitable decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

1. Gender isrefers to as a social aspects and opportunities associated with being male or
female. Gender dealswith the relationships between women and men, girls and boys, as well as
the relations between women themselves and those between men.These aspects, opportunities
and relationships are socially constructed and are cultured through socialization processes from
infancy within the family and have started with the sexes upon adulthood. A person’s gender
governs what is expected, allowed and valued in both sex in a given environment. In most
societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in responsibilities
assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making
opportunities; perfect example of the decision making is in the patriarchal family. Gender is part
of the broader socio-cultural perspective. Other important measures for socio-cultural analysis
include class, race, poverty level, ethnic group and age. The underlying concepts have been
developed by OSAGI. Base on these underlying theories, society and culture has a lot to do with
gender inequality and equality among men and women, boys and girls. In this essay we will be
discussing gender equality, the rights and responsibilities of men and women in all spheres of life
and society at large and how gender equality contributes to the health provision for the both sex.
Gender equality between women and menrefers to the equal rights, responsibilities and
opportunities of women and men and girls and boys in a given society. Gender equality does not
mean that women and men will become the same but that women’s and men’s rights,
responsibilities and opportunities will not be governed only because of the fact thatthey are born
male or female, but because of the human rights act that will ensure that equal value aregiven to
the both sex includingequal treatment by all means eliminating gender biases. Gender equality
implies that the interests, needs and priorities of both women and men are taken into
consideration, recognizing the diversity of different groups of women and men. Gender equality
is not a women’s issue but should concern and fully engage men as well as women. Equality
between women and men is seen both as a human rights issue and as a precondition
forsustainable people-centered development.
Gender equality seeks to promote equal representation of women and men through the
human rights act. Gender equality intended to advance gender equality and women’s
empowerment by reducing discrimination, social perspective on what is expected by men and
women, economic favoritisms even political power inequalities betweenwomen and men. The

2. human right act will also ensure that women benefitequally with men from the activity or jobs
done. It points out that empowering women is also an indispensable tool for advancing
development. And its aimis to develop equitable relationships.This type of relationships is
known as gender equity which is the process of being fair to women and men. To ensure
fairness, strategies and measures must often be available to compensate for women's historical
and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from otherwise operating on a level
playing field.
Gender equality is basicallyrelated to supportable development of human rights for all. The
overall objective of gender equality is a society in which women and men enjoy the same
opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life or society at large, in the home or even
in the work place and other institutions they find themselves in. Gender equality between men
and women exists when both sexes are able to share equally in the distribution of power and
influence; have equal opportunities for financial independence through work or through setting
up businesses, climbing the cooperate ladder, removal of the glass ceiling for women and enjoy
equal access to education privilege and the opportunity to develop personal ambitions, interests
and talents; share responsibility for the home and children, completely freedom from pressure,
intimidation and gender-based violence both at work and at home not forgetting having rights to
their own body and the amount of children they want to make. Gender equality and the society at
large is critical because it will enable women and men to make decisions at all levels that will
impact more positively on their own sexual and reproductive health as well as that of their
spouses and families. Decision-making with regard to such issues as age at marriage, timing of
births, use of contraceptives and recourse to harmful practices (such as female genital cutting)
stands to be improved with the achievement of gender equality.
However it is important to acknowledge that where gender inequality exists, it is generally
women who are excluded or disadvantaged in relation to decision-making and access to
economic and social resources. Therefore a serious aspect of promoting gender equality is the
empowerment of women, with a focus on identifying and redressing power imbalances and
giving women more autonomy to manage their own lives. This would enable them to make
decisions and take actions to achieve and maintain their own reproductive and sexual health. The
achievement of gender equality implies changes for both men and women.

3. Gender Equality in health means that women and men have equal opportunities
For realizing their full rights and potential to be healthy, contribute to health
development, and benefit from the results.

4. Aside from the obvious differences in reproductive health, there are several other ways that men's health
differs from women's. Men and women often experience different symptoms for the same medical
problem. Men are also at higher risk of developing certain conditions, such as kidney stones, and women
are at higher risk of developing others, such as osteoporosis, or thinning bones. Because there are
differences in men's and women's health, different approaches are sometimes taken to prevent and treat
various health conditions.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/224519-how-does-mens-health-differ-from-womenshealth/#ixzz2n0PhTM52
In eight out of the 10 leading causes of death, the death rate is higher for men than for women, Harvard
Medical School reports. These include the top three causes of death for both sexes: heart disease,
cancer and stroke. Men not only become ill and die at a younger age than women, they develop more
chronic diseases throughout their lifetimes. Men are also more than twice as likely as women to die from
liver disease, HIV/AIDS and suicide. Women, on the other hand, are somewhat more likely to die from
Alzheimer's disease.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/224519-how-does-mens-health-differ-from-womenshealth/#ixzz2n0Qn0rEo
Some health conditions affect both men and women, but occur more frequently in one or the other. For
example, both men and women see urologists for urinary tract issues such as kidney or bladder stones,
but men also see urologists for specific health care issues as enlarged prostate, prostate cancer and
other conditions that only affect men. Some urological conditions affect both men and women, but at
significantly different rates. Men are twice as likely to get kidney stones, but women are almost five times
as like to develop interstitial cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder.

5. Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/224519-how-does-mens-health-differ-from-womenshealth/#ixzz2n0R2neoT
Risk Factors
High blood cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease that affects both men and women. From the age of
55 on, however, women have higher cholesterol levels than men, according to the American Heart
Association. When women have high levels of triglycerides, or blood fats, and low levels of protective
HDL cholesterol, they may be at higher risk than men of developing heart disease.
In addition to clinical risk factors such as cholesterol levels and general medical history, risk factors that
put men at higher risk than women of developing and dying from certain medical conditions may include
risky behavior, aggression, alcohol and substance abuse, diet, lack of social networks and lack of routine
medical care, according to Harvard Medical School.
Anatomy
The difference in men's and women's anatomies account for many ways that men's health differs from
women's. Hormone types and levels vary between men and women and these variations affect health in
different ways. Men and women develop different types of medical problems, including different types of
cancers, due to gender-specific body parts. Health concerns that are specific to women's anatomy include
uterine fibroids and cervical and ovarian cancer. Health conditions specific to men's anatomy include
prostatitis and testicular cancer. At the same time, men and women both experience sexually transmitted
infections (STIs), but anatomical differences may cause different symptoms and create different risk
factors.
Considerations
Some ways that men's health differs from women's health are due to lifestyle choices. For instance, Dr.
Stephanie Hochman, at the Partnership for Gender-Specific Medicine at Columbia University, finds that
hammertoes are much more common in women than in men, as are nerve problems in the feet, because
women are more likely to wear poorly-fitted shoes. On the other hand, Dr. Hochman finds that men are
treated for more tendon tears and fractures in the feet. As a result, some of her general preventive health
care advice is tailored more towards one sex or the other.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/224519-how-does-mens-health-differ-from-womenshealth/#ixzz2n0RHSsOe
References

6. Northwestern University/Kellogg School of Management: Gender Disparity in Urology
American Heart Association: Women, Heart Disease and Stroke
Harvard Health Publications: Mars vs. Venus: The Gender Gap in Health
Columbia University Partnership for Gender-Specific Medicine: Interview with Dr. Stephanie
Hochman
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/224519-how-does-mens-health-differ-from-womenshealth/#ixzz2n0S6kFCn