Gender in Organ Transplantation: Unpacking Inequality

Öz

Studies in the medicine suggest that women are at a disadvantage compared to men at critical stages of organ transplantation. These stages include diagnosis of organ failure, referral to specialists, placement on waiting lists, access to organs and post-transplant follow-up. However, women are disproportionately represented among living organ donors. This study examines these gender-based inequalities through the lens of Risman’s theory of “gender as a social structure.” Through literature review, the research evaluates gender inequalities in organ transplantation processes at individual, interactional and institutional levels. Drawing on empirical studies conducted in various international contexts, it discusses in detail the disadvantages women encounter at different stages of the transplantation process.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Organ transplantation
• gender inequality
• organ donation
• sex disparity
• health

Organ Naklinde Toplumsal Cinsiyetin Rolü: Eşitsizliği Anlamak

Öz

Tıp literatüründe yapılan çalışmalar, organ nakli sürecinde kadınların, organ yetmezliği tanısı alma, uzman hekime yönlendirilme, bekleme listesine dahil edilme, organ temini ve nakil sonrası izlem gibi hayati aşamalarda erkeklere kıyasla dezavantajlı konumda olduğunu göstermektedir. Öte yandan kadınların canlı organ bağışçısı olarak orantısız bir biçimde temsil edildiği de dikkat çekici bir bulgudur. Bu çalışma, söz konusu eşitsizlikleri, Risman’ın “bir yapı olarak toplumsal cinsiyet” teorisi çerçevesinde incelemektedir. Literatür tarama yöntemiyle yürütülen bu araştırma, organ nakli süreçlerindeki toplumsal cinsiyet temelli eşitsizlikleri bireysel, etkileşimsel ve kurumsal düzeylerde ele alarak değerlendirmektedir. Uluslararası alanda yapılmış ampirik araştırmalar doğrultusunda, kadınların organ nakli süreçlerinin çeşitli aşamalarında karşılaştığı dezavantajlar tartışılmaktadır

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Organ nakli
• cinsiyet eşitsizliği
• toplumsal cinsiyet
• sağlık

Kaynakça

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