Identidad y género

Aportes para el análisis de la distribución diferenciada de los trastornos mentales

Abstract

Gender is a cathegory of analysis frequently proposed for the explanation of multiple social phenomena. Regarded as a historic process, health/disease processes find the gender as one of the most relevant determinants involved with the differential distribution of disease and health. Apparently, empirical data about mental disease distribution does not show important differences. However, this paper shows and describes a particular distribution of mental disorders related with gender, the socialization of the person and individual ways of expression of psychic suffering. This analysis incorporates theoretical elements such as social identity, the allocation of gender identity and the gender stereotypes and roles, providing a possibility to explain the differential patterns of mental disorders as essential tools for the understanding of the difference between men and women as a socially structured reality.