Women's health at work: a qualitative study on women's health issues in relation to work participation. Experiences and perspectives from female teachers and managers in Norwegian high schools
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3137571Utgivelsesdato
2024Metadata
Vis full innførselSamlinger
- AFI Notat [45]
- Publikasjoner fra Cristin [3269]
Originalversjon
10.1186/s12889-024-19241-ySammendrag
Background Public health and working life are closely related. Even though Norway is one of the world’s most
equality-oriented countries, working life is still divided by gender. Women have a lower rate of participation in
working life than men, they work more part-time and they have a higher sickness absence. Research has mostly
focused on structural and cultural reasons for gender differences, rather than on the fact that women and men have
different biology and face different health challenges. The aim of this project was to explore experienced associations
between women’s health and female participation in working life.
Methods Qualitative methods were chosen for investigating women’s experiences. We carried out in-depth
interviews with 11 female high school teachers and supplemented the material with a focus group with five
managers from the same organisation. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. We used the six steps
of reflexive thematic analysis for consistency in the analysis process.
Results The teachers shared a variety of experienced health issues within the field of women’s health and perceived
barriers in the work environment. Four main themes were identified: (1) invisibility of women’s health at work, (2)
complexity and lack of recognition of women’s health at work, (3) women’s health in work environment and (4)
women’s health and role conflicts. There were few contradictions between the two informant groups. We found that
health, work and total life intertwine and that complexity, lack of recognition and invisibility of women’s health appear
at different levels in a mutual influence: for the women themselves, in the organisation and in society.
Conclusion Lack of recognition and invisibility of women’s health in the work environment is suggested to influence
women’s work participation. The complexity of female health is not captured by gender-neutral structures in the work
environment meant to protect and promote employees’ occupational health. Recognition of women’s health in the
work context can therefore contribute to a gender-equal, health-promoting and sustainable working life.