Patriarchy and Sexual Health: A Feminist Analysis of STI Rates among Danish Youth
(2024) TKAM02 20241Division of Ethnology
- Abstract
- What does Gen Z (those born 1995-2010) and Denmark have in common? Chlamydia.
Denmark reports the highest chlamydia rates in Europe among individuals aged 15–29, with the number increasing since 2012. Despite the availability of free sexually-transmitted infection (STI) testing and comprehensive sexual education, rates continue to rise. The underlying causes of this trend need investigation, particularly from a feminist perspective, as women often suffer disproportionately from STIs in various ways including delayed diagnoses, severe health consequences, and unequal responsibility.
This research investigates how Danish youth perceive and narrate their sexual health experiences and examines how these experiences may contribute to rising... (More) - What does Gen Z (those born 1995-2010) and Denmark have in common? Chlamydia.
Denmark reports the highest chlamydia rates in Europe among individuals aged 15–29, with the number increasing since 2012. Despite the availability of free sexually-transmitted infection (STI) testing and comprehensive sexual education, rates continue to rise. The underlying causes of this trend need investigation, particularly from a feminist perspective, as women often suffer disproportionately from STIs in various ways including delayed diagnoses, severe health consequences, and unequal responsibility.
This research investigates how Danish youth perceive and narrate their sexual health experiences and examines how these experiences may contribute to rising STI rates. By centering the voices of the youth, this study aims to shed light on their perspectives. Utilizing interviews with Danish youth and sexual health experts, as well as direct participant observation at STI clincis, this research seeks to understand the procedures and practices of sexual health in Denmark.
Through a critical feminist lens, the research highlights the hidden heteronormative and patriarchal structures embedded in the Danish sexual health system, drawing on theoretical concepts such as habitus (Bourdieu, 1977), dressage (Lefebvre, 2004), and disciplinary power (Foucault, 2008). Findings suggest that Danish societal dispositions and norms, combined with crucial gaps in sexual education and healthcare accessibility, combine to give the mistaken perception that STI risk is low and contribute to the perception of prevention and aftercare as a woman’s issue. The research concludes by advocating for more stringent regulation of sexual education laws, a re-evaluation of educational content, and an enhanced focus on testing routines and healthcare infrastructure. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9175614
- author
- Schwan, Annastassia Firdaus LU
- supervisor
-
- Rachel Irwin LU
- organization
- course
- TKAM02 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Sexual health, critical feminist lens, sexually-transmitted infections (STIs), sexual education, heteronormativity, patriarchy, Denmark, gender inequality
- language
- English
- id
- 9175614
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-27 15:58:35
- date last changed
- 2024-09-27 15:58:35
@misc{9175614,
abstract = {{What does Gen Z (those born 1995-2010) and Denmark have in common? Chlamydia.
Denmark reports the highest chlamydia rates in Europe among individuals aged 15–29, with the number increasing since 2012. Despite the availability of free sexually-transmitted infection (STI) testing and comprehensive sexual education, rates continue to rise. The underlying causes of this trend need investigation, particularly from a feminist perspective, as women often suffer disproportionately from STIs in various ways including delayed diagnoses, severe health consequences, and unequal responsibility.
This research investigates how Danish youth perceive and narrate their sexual health experiences and examines how these experiences may contribute to rising STI rates. By centering the voices of the youth, this study aims to shed light on their perspectives. Utilizing interviews with Danish youth and sexual health experts, as well as direct participant observation at STI clincis, this research seeks to understand the procedures and practices of sexual health in Denmark.
Through a critical feminist lens, the research highlights the hidden heteronormative and patriarchal structures embedded in the Danish sexual health system, drawing on theoretical concepts such as habitus (Bourdieu, 1977), dressage (Lefebvre, 2004), and disciplinary power (Foucault, 2008). Findings suggest that Danish societal dispositions and norms, combined with crucial gaps in sexual education and healthcare accessibility, combine to give the mistaken perception that STI risk is low and contribute to the perception of prevention and aftercare as a woman’s issue. The research concludes by advocating for more stringent regulation of sexual education laws, a re-evaluation of educational content, and an enhanced focus on testing routines and healthcare infrastructure.}},
author = {{Schwan, Annastassia Firdaus}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Patriarchy and Sexual Health: A Feminist Analysis of STI Rates among Danish Youth}},
year = {{2024}},
}