Jean-Jacques 1

Marcus Jean-Jacques
250607415
Eric Desjardins
Philosophy 1200
TUT 005

Part 1

A correlation coefficient, r, is a number between 1 and +1 calculated so as to represent the

linear dependence of two variables or sets of data. When r is between zero and one the two

variables tend to increase or decrease together. When r is 1.0 there is perfect correlation. When r

is between negative 1 and zero, as one variable increases the other decreases. When r is -1.0

there is perfect negative or inverse correlation. (coefficient of correlation)

The P-value however refers to the probability that an effect or relationship has occurred in a

sample simply by chance. It is the likelihood that an observed effect could have occurred due to

the chance factors such as sampling variation. A p-value of less than .05 (p<.05) indicates there

is less than a 5% (or one in twenty) probability that the effect seen is a result of chance factors

and is conventionally considered acceptable for rejecting the null hypothesis and concluding that

the effect is statistically significant. (Steve Strand)

Part 2

1) The hygiene hypothesis offers an explanation for the correlation, well-established in the

industrialized nations of North and West, between increased hygiene and sanitation, and

increased rates of asthma and allergies It is hypothesized, lower rates of exposure to certain

kinds of allergens, bacteria and other micro-organisms have had unintended, negative

consequences for immune health (Clough). Sharyn Clough claims that emphasis on young

girls being neat and tidy in a western society may contribute to higher rates of certain
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diseases in adult women. Sharyn Cloughs claim differs from the hygiene hypothesis

because her claim addresses specifically gender`s contribution to higher rates, and asserts

that amount and types of germs girls and boys are exposed to differ significantly enough to

attribute to a difference in the rates of certain disease in adult women.

2) Gender can be defined as the socially prescribed expectations or roles for people of a

particular sex, usually discussed in terms of masculinity, femininity. (CRE Terms Glossary)

According to the article girls growing up in western society are expected to be neat and tidy.

Its plausible that girls who carry out this role will have less exposure to germs during their

childhood and in turn increase their risk of allergies and autoimmune disorders as women.

Gender appears to be a risk factor in Cloughs story. According to the studies mentioned in

the article, women in general have a higher prevalence of asthma and autoimmune disease.

This suggests a correlation between gender and diseases mentioned. However it is not clear

whether this difference between men and women is due to sex, gender roles or some other

factor.

3) Sex refers to either of two main divisions (either female or male) into which many

organisms can be placed, according to reproductive function or organs. (sex) Gender,

however, is as the socially prescribed expectations or roles for people of a particular sex. It

also refers to behavioral and psychological traits associated with a persons sex. These

traits and expectations are influenced by a societys culture and history and may change

over periods of time. Thus gender is predominantly a reflection of societys views on how

the sexes ought to behave.

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4) As evidence the article mentions a variety of studies which show the prevalence of certain

diseases amongst females. Studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the

National Institutes of Health statistics and the Task Force on Gender, show that the

prevalence of autoimmune disorders and asthma is significantly higher amongst women.

The studies show a correlation between (the female) sex and risk, which is used to suggest

that there is likely a similar correlation between gender and risk.

5) A) The type of studies used appears to be observational studies, recording the prevalence of

certain disease between the sexes. A variety of studies are given from different sources such

as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health statistics

and the Task Force on Gender. The sources from which the studies are taken also appear to

be reliable sources of information, and this makes the data from the sources more

trustworthy.

B) The claim does fit existing theories and understanding. If an emphasis on cleanliness

results in less exposure to germs and upsets the balance of the immune response to allergens

then its plausible that the female gender role may further reduce expose to germs and

increase the likelihood of certain disease. The increased prevalence of certain diseases could

be the results of a dose relationship, with increased hygiene resulting in increased risk of

disease.

C) The evidence from the scientific community helps to link gender to hygiene to disease in

a clear way, and serves as some support for Clough`s claim. Also, according to the article

Clough said she can easily join in the chorus of voices of health experts who say that more

outdoor time for kids is good even if that means the kids get a little dirty. (Gender and

hygiene: Could cleanliness be hurting girls?) The article, suggests that health experts
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believe that outdoor time for kids of both sexes is beneficial. It is therefore likely that there

is some convergence among the scientific community in favour of Cloughs thesis.

6) According to the article one gram of ordinary uncontaminated soil contains 10 billion

microbial cells, so the effects of ingesting dirt are unknown. If parents were to allow their

daughters to eat dirt in order to expose them to more germs, the result could be dangerous.

The children may to experience health issues worse than those related to the hygiene

hypothesis. Parents therefore should not allow their children to ingest soil.

7) The evidence from the studies appears to be in favour her claim that emphasis on young

girls being neat and tidy in a western society may contribute to higher rates of certain

diseases in adult women. If girls are actually exposed to a significant difference in the types

and amount of germs because of gender then gender is quite plausibly a risk factor for

certain diseases. It is not certain however whether or not the differences in exposure is

significant enough to explain the differences observed in the higher prevalence of certain

disease among women or if it significantly contributes to it. The differences could be

attributed to confounding factors, biological or otherwise, that have not yet been fully

explored. As suggested by the article, epidemiologist and clinicians should ``go back and

examine their data through the lens of gender``. (Gender and hygiene: Could cleanliness be

hurting girls?). Until gender has been explored more in depth, one should make a tentative

judgement in favour of Clough`s claim.

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Work Cited

Clough, S. (n.d.). Gender and the hygiene hypothesis. Retrieved february 20, 2012, from Science Direct:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953610008154

coefficient of correlation. (n.d.). Retrieved february 20, 2012, from BussinessDictionary.com:

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/coefficient-of-correlation-r.html

CRE Terms Glossary. (n.d.). Retrieved february 20, 2012, from CREeducation.org:
http://www.creducation.org/cre/lo/glossary/

Hygiene Hypothesis. (n.d.). Retrieved february 20, 2012, from wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis

sex. (n.d.). Retrieved february 20, 2012, from dictionary.com:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sex

Steve Strand, S. C. (n.d.). Restore. Retrieved february 20, 2012, from Glossary:
http://www.restore.ac.uk/srme/www/fac/soc/wie/research-
new/srme/glossary/index0df8.html?selectedLetter=p

Oregon State University. "Gender and hygiene: Could cleanliness be hurting

girls?."ScienceDaily, 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 25 Feb. 2012.