What You’ll Do: This assignment is your chance to reflect on how different parts of your identity—like your gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation—have influenced (or coul

Growing up, I often noticed that my voice carried less weight than those of my male peers. Teachers, coworkers, and medical staff have dismissed my input, reinforcing the message that being a girl meant being overlooked. These experiences are not just individual insults, they reflect structural sexism, a system that has measurable consequences for women’s health and well-being ( Homan, 2024). In this reflection, I describe how my gender identity has influenced my health and access to resources, connect these experiences to theories of structural sexism, and ecosocial embodiment, and reflect on course readings to analyze broader implications. One of the most persistent experiences I have had as a cis gendered female is being overlooked in both educational and professional settings. In group projects, I have had moments where my ideas were ignored until male peers repeated them. In classrooms, I have noticed that when men speak their contributions are often treated as insightful, while women’s ideas are interrupted or brushed aside. These patterns create a message that men’s voices are more valued. Over time, these experiences affect confidence and self-perception. I have sometimes hesitated to speak up, anticipating that I would not be taken seriously.

This aligns with what researchers have described as the gender confidence gap. Where women report lower levels of confidence and higher levels of imposter syndrome compared equally to men (Sterling et al. 2020;Homan,2024). This issue can lead to real health issues such as chronic stress from being undervalued, which can contribute to anxiety,exhaustion, and even low self-esteem. I can see how these daily encounters accumulate to shape my mental health and limit opportunities for success. TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 4 STRUCTURAL SEXISM: BEYOND INDIVIDUAL BIAS While being overlooked may seem like an interpersonal issue, feminist scholarship shows that it is deeply embedded in structural sexism. Homan (2024) defines structural sexism as a “ systematic gender inequality in power and resources in a given gender system” (p. 2). This framework emphasizes that sexism is not limited to individual prejudice but is woven into social institutions, policies, and cultural norms. For example, At the macro level, sexism is evident in the wage gap, underrepresentation of women in politics, and restrictive reproductive health policies. This includes things like the rollback of abortion rights which in recent years demonstrates how women’s bodily autonomy is more often than not treated as negotiable, af fecting women’s health and livelihood. At the meso level, sexism appears in organizations and workplaces, where women are expected to perform nurturing tasks with little to no recognition, reducing their chances of promotion (Babcock et al ; 2007). While at the micro level, internalized sexism shapes everyday behavior, such as women speaking less in everyday behavior , such as women speaking in meetings less or second guessing their abilities (Homan,2024). My own experiences of being overlooked reflects all three levels: macro policies create the culture that tolerates inequality, meso-level institutions reproduce those norms, and at the micro level, I sometimes silence myself in anticipation of dismissal, essentially growing up to believe that to be seen is to be quiet. Health Consequences of Structural Sexism: Structural sexism does not only impact opportunities, it has measurable effects on health. Ecosocial theory explains how social oppression gets under the skin, meaning that inequality TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 5 literally becomes embodied in biological processes (Krieger, 2001). Living in environments with high sexism increases women’s exposure to stress, harassment, and unsafe supportive resources (Homan, 2024). Personally , the stress of being disregarded or undervalued has led to anxiety and sometimes even feelings of depression. I also worry about healthcare settings. Research shows that physicians often dismiss women’s pain or even delayed diagnoses, leading to worse health outcomes compared to men (Greenwood et al. 2008). I have experienced this first-hand when reporting symptoms that were minimized, only to later find out that they were signs of a real condition. The distrust that builds from these experiences makes women less likely to seek care, which further harms health. Economic inequality compounds these problems. Because women, on average, earn less than men, they are more likely to face barriers to healthcare access, such as cost and insurance coverage. For me, being a student and a woman means balancing financial stress and my healthcare needs. Another example of how gender identity shapes well-being. Despite these challenges, being female also shaped the types of support I access. Women’ s networks often provide emotional support and validation, which help buffer the effects of sexism. For example, talking to other women about being overlooked has helped me realize that the problem is systemic, not personal failure. This solidarity reflects what feminist scholars describe as resistance to structural sexism through community and care ( Collins, 2022). At the same time, the stigma of being “ too emotional” or “ too sensitive" often discourages women from speaking openly about discrimination. This double bind needing support but being TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 6 told to stay quiet creates additional stress. The burden of navigating these contradictions falls disproportionately on women, affecting both mental and physical health. In conclusion, being female in the United States means navigating a landscape shaped by structural sexism. From being overlooked in classrooms to worrying about bias in healthcare, my experiences reflect broader patterns of gender inequality.Structural sexism operates at macro,meso, and micro levels, influencing everything from political representation to daily interactions. The health consequences are significant: chronic stress,limited access to care, and reduced confidence. Yet, through feminist theory and solidarity with other women, I also see pathways of resilience. Understanding how gender identity shapes health helps me connect personal experiences to systemic issues, reinforcing that change requires not only individual coping but also structural transformation. TITLE OF YOUR PAPER 7 References B ab co ck , L., Recald e, M.

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