Gender differences in the education sector

The education sector is a highly feminized sector, as there is a higher proportion of

women than men. In subsectors of the same, such as Early Childhood Education (from
zero to six years), the percentage of working women reaches practically the entire
workforce.

The community strategy on safety and health at work has reached the conclusion that it is
necessary to integrate the gender dimension in safety and health activities at work, since relatively
frequent studies have shown that there is a different exposure to occupational risks according to
gender, that is, men and women are exposed to different occupational risks.
Main gender differences in work incidents Gender differences have been detected in the
incidence of work-related accidents, illnesses and pathologies, these being the most relevant:

Men suffer more accidents and injuries at work than women.

Women are more likely to have work-related health problems than men.
Women suffer more upper extremity disorders related to repetitive movements.
Occupational cancer is more common among men than women.
Asthma and allergies tend to be more common among women.
Women suffer more skin diseases.
Men suffer more hearing loss.
Women are at higher risk of infectious diseases.
Both sexes are exposed to stress, but it is more significant among women.
Women are more exposed to bullying in the workplace.
Women are more exposed to sexual harassment in the workplace.

Hormonal changes in women Finally, in addition to these differences related to the different
exposure to risks suffered by both genders, we also want to highlight that women suffer, to a
greater extent, the effects of age. Also taking into account the inevitable deterioration of the body
due to the passage of time (common to both genders), the hormonal change that women undergo
with menopause produces:
More fragile bones. The bone weakens, becoming porous, brittle and more susceptible
to fractures.

A more fragile skin. By reducing the collagen in the tissues, the skin becomes thinner and
drier (facilitates the absorption of chemicals that are dangerous to health).

Weight gain. The lack of estrogen in menopause favors weight gain and increased body
fat, with the risks associated with this situation.

Increase in coronary diseases. The female hormones (progesterone and estrogen)

protect women against coronary heart disease. However, this protection is lost with
menopause.
 All these changes have repercussions on occupational risks that affect women. and
allergies tend to be more common among women.

Women suffer more skin diseases.

Men suffer more hearing loss.

Women are at higher risk of infectious diseases.

Both sexes are exposed to stress, but it is more significant among women.

Women are more exposed to bullying in the workplace.

Women are more exposed to sexual harassment in the workplace.

Hormonal changes in women

Finally, in addition to these differences related to the different exposure to risks suffered
by both genders, we also want to highlight that women suffer, to a greater extent, the
effects of age. Also taking into account the inevitable deterioration of the body due to the
passage of time (common to both genders), the hormonal change that women undergo
with menopause produces:

More fragile bones. The bone weakens, becoming porous, brittle and more susceptible to
fractures.

A more fragile skin. By reducing the collagen in the tissues, the skin becomes thinner and drier
(facilitates the absorption of chemicals that are dangerous to health).

Weight gain. The lack of estrogen in menopause favors weight gain and increased body fat, with
the risks associated with this situation.

Increase in coronary diseases. The female hormones (progesterone and estrogen) protect women
against coronary heart disease. However, this protection is lost with menopause.

All these changes have repercussions on occupational risks that affect women.