Week 7 Discussion: Marginalized Women and Childbearing Families

 

1. As an advanced practice nurse, what are three actions you can take to mitigate social impacts to marginalized women?

One of the actions that an advanced practice nurse can take to mitigate social impacts to marginalized women is providing advocacy for the development of policies that protect women from social discrimination. Studies have indicated that there are many policies at the government, state, and local levels that prevent women from accessing healthcare services (Prodan‐Bhalla & Browne, 2019). Since nurse practitioners are influential and policymakers can listen to them, which gives them the advantage to advocate for policies that protect women from marginalization. Another action as an advanced practice nurse would be providing women-friendly healthcare services that are individualized per patient needs, building trust with the women, and making health services easily accessible to them. An advanced practice nurse can also research to understand the social and cultural sources of women marginalization and how they can be mitigated. The research can also focus on unearthing policies that promote discrimination of women and recommend more women-friendly policies.

2. What role does policy at either government, state, or local level play in the marginalization of women and childbearing families?

Policies at government, state, or local levels have played a role in the marginalization of women and childbearing families. Research has indicated that in various communities, there are discriminative and unjust structural policies that limit women’s access to healthcare and promote health inequities. There are state policies, for example, which effect women`s access to childcare, maternity leave from work, and care for older women. Other policies do not promote women access to employment opportunities, often leading women to low income, high employment rates, and lack of opportunities to get educated (Prodan‐Bhalla & Browne, 2019). Policymakers at levels have an opportunity to change laws and policies to reduce the marginalization of women. Nurse practitioners can advocate for better policies from government, state, or local levels to reduce social injustices towards women.

3. Identify one policy that impacts marginalized groups (include whether the policy is at the federal, state, or local level).

Among the policies that have an impact on marginalized groups in the United States is the healthcare policy. The policy, which is at the federal level, should make healthcare accessible and affordable to all citizens in the country. Healthcare policy seeks to create and implement laws, rules, and regulations that govern the national health system. Young and the most disadvantage women are not able to access high-quality healthcare services due to their socio-demographic background (Daniel et al., 2018). The federal policy should implement health equity by ensuring universal healthcare access to all citizens in the country.

4. Discuss how policy impacts marginalized group either positively or negatively.

Policies represent what the government, institution, or any entity intends to do and directs what is supposed to be done by all the individuals or sectors affected by that policy. When governments or other entities issue a policy, it has to be followed and dictates how things will be done within its jurisdiction or scope of authority. Due to this, policies can affect marginalized groups sometimes in positive and other times in a negative way. For example, policies that deny women equal opportunities for employment result in many of them being without sources of income (Prodan‐Bhalla & Browne, 2019). Such an example of women indicates how policies that impact marginalized groups negatively. The policy may also have a positive impact on marginalized groups of people. For example, health policies ensure healthcare services are accessible and affordable to all citizens through programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Through the policy, even low-income earners, disabled, and older adults are able to access and afford high-quality healthcare. It shows how policy impact marginalized groups in a positive way. Policymakers should strive to ensure that policies have positive as opposed to negative impacts.

References

Daniel, H., Erickson, S. M., & Bornstein, S. S. (2018). Women’s Health Policy in the United States: An American College of Physicians Position Paper. Annals of Internal Medicine, 168(12), 874. https://doi.org/10.7326/m17-3344

Prodan‐Bhalla, N., & Browne, A. J. (2019). Exploring women’s health care experiences through an equity lens: Findings from a community clinic serving marginalized women. Journal of clinical nursing, 28(19-20), 3459-3469. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14937