M. A. 2nd Semester Complete Syllabus
PAPER 4 – WOMEN AND HEALTH M.A. 2nd Semester – Complete Class Notes UNIT I: WOMEN’S HEALTH ISSUES – PAST AND PRESENT SPHERES 1. Introduction to Women’s Health Meaning and Scope of Women’s Health Women’s health refers to the comprehensive physical, mental, reproductive, and social well‑being of women across the life cycle. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well‑being, not merely the absence of disease. Feminist health scholarship expands this definition by emphasizing gender relations, power structures, and women’s lived experiences in shaping health outcomes. Women’s health differs from general health because women experience: Unique reproductive functions (menstruation, pregnancy, menopause) Gendered social roles (care work, restricted mobility) Structural inequalities (nutrition, education, access to care) Thus, women’s health is both biological and socio‑political . DESCRIPTIVE FORMAT Introduction to Women’s Health...