PUB336 Gender Equity and Human Health
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | PUB336 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $4,848 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | PUB336 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Nil |
| Coordinators: | Michelle Gatton | m.gatton@qut.edu.au Patricia Sheehan | patricia.sheehan@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Gender is a powerful determinant of human health globally. Men's, women’s and transgender health are driven strongly by social constructions of gender performance across the life-course. Men live shorter lives, have higher cancer, cardiovascular disease, and higher suicide rates. Women suffer from higher rates of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, dementia, interpersonal violence, rape, and poverty globally. Further, a binary view of gender is no longer considered useful from a public health perspective, as transgender people continue to suffer some of the highest rates of interpersonal violence and suicide globally. This unit will adopt a non-binary, social determinants approach to defining and studying gender from an intersectional perspective. It will emphasise how a focus on gender equity generates improvement in population health globally. This is a multidisciplinary and interprofessional unit and welcomes students from a wide range of courses.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Synthesise scholarly research to critique the social determinants of gender equity and human health;
- Critically evaluate policies and practices which impact on gendered aspects of health at government, community, family and individual levels;
- Identify a conceptual framework to analyse gendered health issues;
- Reflect on intersectional and diverse gender and sexuality perspectives, including consideration of other social determinants of human health
- Translate empirical research findings to communicate the importance of gender equity and human health issues using diverse digital communication technologies.
Content
The unit covers the following topics:
- women’s health,
- men’s health,
- intersex and transgender health,
- gender as a social determinant of health,
- biological sex and health,
- intersectionality, and gender as it intersects with other drivers of health globally
- Indigenous and marginalised perspectives
- digital practices for advocating for marginalised groups
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:
- lectures - delivered on-campus and offered synchronously online. Recordings are available.
- tutorials (separate online and on-campus offerings)
- self-directed online readings and learning materials
- real world examples of gender equity and human health
- group learning and peer feedback
In order to maximise your learning experience in this unit, each tutorial will be supported by set readings and a series of guided questions which you will be expected to consider prior to the tutorial.
Participation in tutorials engages you in small group discussion where diverse views and interpretation of literature develop your ability to express an opinion backed up by evidence. Your ability to think critically, ask questions of the literature in the real world context of the topics chosen for your research is a capability expected at a professional level.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit. You will contribute weekly reflections which will provide opportunity for self and peer feedback and be periodically reviewed by the teaching staff.
Assessment
Overview
This unit has two assessments:
1. Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast - This will develop your ability to orally communicate research in an engaging and persuasive format. It will connect to specific topics covered in lectures and in-depth in tutorials. You will need to make big data, research, service provision and current advocacy efforts accessible and understandable to a health professional audience.
2. Case Study Interview - You will interview for a hypothetical organisation that assists a specific population with their gender and sexuality-related health challenges and risk factors. You will require an indepth and rigorous understanding of the historical and current inequities that this population has faced, and how this impacts on their current health-risk behaviours and associated illnesses, disease and life expectancy.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast
You will take on the role of a public health professional to create a podcast on a selected gender equity and human health topic for other health professionals. The podcast will be designed to promote the health and wellbeing of marginalised gender groups in relation to a key health issue faced by that group.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Case Study Interview
You will undertake a 10 minute interview with your Lecturer for a job in an hypothetical gender and sexuality health equity organisation. This interview requires you to have the necessary knowledge, cultural safety, and historical insights to generate a trauma informed advocacy for this group in an attempt to achieve sustainable gender equity and human health.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment. No written material can be used during the interview.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
No resources needed
Risk Assessment Statement
Some of the information that will be shared during this unit could trigger some emotional responses for you and/or your peers. The unit will cover topics such as gender related violence and prejudice, race related violence and prejudice, experiences of marginalised groups and self-harm. It is very important that you monitor your own feelings and well-being as you study. You may need to take breaks and find helpful ways you can process the information. Information about accessing support at QUT and suggestions for self-care will be provided in the unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PU52 Bachelor of Public Health
- Apply public health principles and evidence to improve population health outcomes.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast - Critically analyse scholarly literature and effectively conduct research to inform evidence based public health practice.
Relates to: ULO1 - Communicate with professional, non-professional and community audiences about public health using diverse technologies.
Relates to: ULO5, Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast - Apply culturally safe and inclusive approaches to work with diverse individuals, groups and communities, including Indigenous Australians.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast - Collaborate and negotiate with key stakeholders to advocate for the health and wellbeing of communities and populations.
Relates to: ULO5
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2026, Online
| Unit code: | PUB336 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | Nil |
Overview
Gender is a powerful determinant of human health globally. Men's, women’s and transgender health are driven strongly by social constructions of gender performance across the life-course. Men live shorter lives, have higher cancer, cardiovascular disease, and higher suicide rates. Women suffer from higher rates of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, dementia, interpersonal violence, rape, and poverty globally. Further, a binary view of gender is no longer considered useful from a public health perspective, as transgender people continue to suffer some of the highest rates of interpersonal violence and suicide globally. This unit will adopt a non-binary, social determinants approach to defining and studying gender from an intersectional perspective. It will emphasise how a focus on gender equity generates improvement in population health globally. This is a multidisciplinary and interprofessional unit and welcomes students from a wide range of courses.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Synthesise scholarly research to critique the social determinants of gender equity and human health;
- Critically evaluate policies and practices which impact on gendered aspects of health at government, community, family and individual levels;
- Identify a conceptual framework to analyse gendered health issues;
- Reflect on intersectional and diverse gender and sexuality perspectives, including consideration of other social determinants of human health
- Translate empirical research findings to communicate the importance of gender equity and human health issues using diverse digital communication technologies.
Content
The unit covers the following topics:
- women’s health,
- men’s health,
- intersex and transgender health,
- gender as a social determinant of health,
- biological sex and health,
- intersectionality, and gender as it intersects with other drivers of health globally
- Indigenous and marginalised perspectives
- digital practices for advocating for marginalised groups
Learning Approaches
In this unit, you will learn by engaging in the following:
- lectures - delivered on-campus and offered synchronously online. Recordings are available.
- tutorials (separate online and on-campus offerings)
- self-directed online readings and learning materials
- real world examples of gender equity and human health
- group learning and peer feedback
In order to maximise your learning experience in this unit, each tutorial will be supported by set readings and a series of guided questions which you will be expected to consider prior to the tutorial.
Participation in tutorials engages you in small group discussion where diverse views and interpretation of literature develop your ability to express an opinion backed up by evidence. Your ability to think critically, ask questions of the literature in the real world context of the topics chosen for your research is a capability expected at a professional level.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit. You will contribute weekly reflections which will provide opportunity for self and peer feedback and be periodically reviewed by the teaching staff.
Assessment
Overview
This unit has two assessments:
1. Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast - This will develop your ability to orally communicate research in an engaging and persuasive format. It will connect to specific topics covered in lectures and in-depth in tutorials. You will need to make big data, research, service provision and current advocacy efforts accessible and understandable to a health professional audience.
2. Case Study Interview - You will interview for a hypothetical organisation that assists a specific population with their gender and sexuality-related health challenges and risk factors. You will require an indepth and rigorous understanding of the historical and current inequities that this population has faced, and how this impacts on their current health-risk behaviours and associated illnesses, disease and life expectancy.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast
You will take on the role of a public health professional to create a podcast on a selected gender equity and human health topic for other health professionals. The podcast will be designed to promote the health and wellbeing of marginalised gender groups in relation to a key health issue faced by that group.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Case Study Interview
You will undertake a 10 minute interview with your Lecturer for a job in an hypothetical gender and sexuality health equity organisation. This interview requires you to have the necessary knowledge, cultural safety, and historical insights to generate a trauma informed advocacy for this group in an attempt to achieve sustainable gender equity and human health.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment. No written material can be used during the interview.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
No resources needed
Risk Assessment Statement
Some of the information that will be shared during this unit could trigger some emotional responses for you and/or your peers. The unit will cover topics such as gender related violence and prejudice, race related violence and prejudice, experiences of marginalised groups and self-harm. It is very important that you monitor your own feelings and well-being as you study. You may need to take breaks and find helpful ways you can process the information. Information about accessing support at QUT and suggestions for self-care will be provided in the unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.PU52 Bachelor of Public Health
- Apply public health principles and evidence to improve population health outcomes.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3, ULO4, Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast - Critically analyse scholarly literature and effectively conduct research to inform evidence based public health practice.
Relates to: ULO1 - Communicate with professional, non-professional and community audiences about public health using diverse technologies.
Relates to: ULO5, Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast - Apply culturally safe and inclusive approaches to work with diverse individuals, groups and communities, including Indigenous Australians.
Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Gender Equity and Human Health Podcast - Collaborate and negotiate with key stakeholders to advocate for the health and wellbeing of communities and populations.
Relates to: ULO5