Drugs and gender:
Structure:
• Gender and drug use
• Gender and drug dealing
• Gender and sentencing
• “God’s police”
• Childcare and drugs
• Gender and treatment
• Drugs and trans people.
A quick note:
• While this lecture is about gender, the data available tends to only focus on men and
women.
• The fact that in many sections Nonbinary gender identities are not mentioned does not
mean nonbinary people don’t exist, it means the literature has a blind spot
Gender and drug use (men):
• Men significantly more likely to use drugs than women
• Men may be more likely to perceive lesser risks in drug and alcohol use.
• Gendered ideas about what is acceptable and what is not
• Drug use part of a “work hard, party hard” culture
• Different drugs used to mediate different social settings, for example cocaine more popular
among masculine subcultures where hyperconsumption and violence are more tolerated.
• Note connection between masculinity and mental health, men less likely to seek help
Gender and drug use (women):
• “the ideal feminine drug” ?
• A way to cope with stress?
• Introduction by partners
• More likely to take prescription drugs (including opiods)
• Women are more likely to use antidepressants, lack of use of controlled drugs may be due to
use of legitimate options?
• NB women more likely to be prescribed psychotropics than painkillers
• Certain drugs can be more dangerous for women
Gender and drug dealing:
Structure:
• Gender and drug use
• Gender and drug dealing
• Gender and sentencing
• “God’s police”
• Childcare and drugs
• Gender and treatment
• Drugs and trans people.
A quick note:
• While this lecture is about gender, the data available tends to only focus on men and
women.
• The fact that in many sections Nonbinary gender identities are not mentioned does not
mean nonbinary people don’t exist, it means the literature has a blind spot
Gender and drug use (men):
• Men significantly more likely to use drugs than women
• Men may be more likely to perceive lesser risks in drug and alcohol use.
• Gendered ideas about what is acceptable and what is not
• Drug use part of a “work hard, party hard” culture
• Different drugs used to mediate different social settings, for example cocaine more popular
among masculine subcultures where hyperconsumption and violence are more tolerated.
• Note connection between masculinity and mental health, men less likely to seek help
Gender and drug use (women):
• “the ideal feminine drug” ?
• A way to cope with stress?
• Introduction by partners
• More likely to take prescription drugs (including opiods)
• Women are more likely to use antidepressants, lack of use of controlled drugs may be due to
use of legitimate options?
• NB women more likely to be prescribed psychotropics than painkillers
• Certain drugs can be more dangerous for women
Gender and drug dealing:
