In a conference on Nov. 22, York academics examined how women in Canada from Asian countries, such as China, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam, are marginalized by the health-care system. The University”s Centre for Feminist Research, in association with the Hong Fook Mental Health Association, hosted the one-day conference on the Keele campus.
“Women who come from many countries in Asia have not received sufficient attention from health researchers, service providers and policy makers,” says Vijay Agnew, social science professor and director of York”s Centre for Feminist Research. “This interdisciplinary conference seeks to bring together university and community researchers and activists with an interest in understanding how immigration and the intersection of race, class and gender impact Asian women’s health status, help-seeking behaviour, and use of health services, including alternative and traditional therapies.”
The conference featured presenters who deal with all aspects of Asian women immigrants’ physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health, including barriers to health care, health services for women living in poverty or those with limited English proficiency, sexual and reproductive health of young women, and the social determinants of health.
Topics covered were “Thai Migrant Sex Workers” Health”, “Challenging Stereotypes and Embracing Diversity: Developing Culturally Competent and Holistic Health Promotion with East and Southeast Asian Immigrant/Refugee Women”, “Nonprofit Community Service Agencies and the Well-Being of Asian Women”, and “Dynamics of Organ and Tissue Donation Among Asian-Canadian Women”.
For more information check the Media Relations Web site: http://www.yorku.ca/ycom/release/archive/112102-3.htm.