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Constructions of Young Women’s Health and Wellbeing in Neoliberal Times: A Case Study of the HPV Vaccination Program in Australia

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Rethinking Youth Wellbeing

Abstract

This chapter explores how the concept of wellbeing is operationalized in policy and practice, constituted as health’s more flexible and well-rounded counterpart. Drawing on Foucault’s (1991) analytics of governmentality, we argue that “health-as-wellbeing” is mobilized as a modality of neoliberal government. Taking the Australian Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program as a case study, we explore how discourses of healthy citizenship, HPV and HPV vaccination are produced and consumed through conjoining discourses of health and wellbeing. We analyze the initial televisual and online promotional materials that targeted girls and young women alongside data from a qualitative research study about the school-based HPV vaccination program. We argue that the shift from health to health-as-wellbeing produces and manages contemporary subjectivities through a range of pedagogies and consumptive practices that position individuals as free-choosing agents and managers-of-the-self. We illustrate how the discourse of health-as-wellbeing is employed to mediate knowledge about HPV and HPV related cancer, and to construct the norms of healthy and gendered citizenship.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The national rollout began in 2007 across Australian states and territories. In NSW, Year 10, 11 and 12 girls were vaccinated in May, 2007. In 2008, girls in years 7, 8, 9 and 10 were vaccinated. These 2 years were part of the “catch up program” which ensure maximum coverage across year groups. From 2009, all year 7 girls entering high school were offered the HPV vaccine as part of the broader NSW school-based vaccination schedule.

  2. 2.

    In Australia, young people can apply for a Medicare card from the age of 15 years. An Australian Medicare Card is issued to individuals or families (permanent residents of Australia except those residing on Norfolk Island or those deemed not to be residing in Australia) who are eligible to receive a rebate of medical expenses under the Australian Medicare system when a doctor treats them privately with a provider number. A Medicare card is required for claiming a Medicare benefit, visiting a doctor who bulk bills, seeking treatment as a public patient in a public hospital or having a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription filled. Before the age of 15 years, parents/guardians are legally entitled to make health decisions for their children. See: <http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/subjects/young-people-becoming-independent#a5>, accessed 12th December 2013.

  3. 3.

    In Tasmania, the school-based HPV program commenced in May 2007. The recommended target groups for 2007 were Grades 6 (primary aged students) or 7, and 10–12. In 2008, the target group will be Grades 6 or 7, 8 and 9, and 11 and 12. HPV vaccinations were co-administered with hepatitis B and varicella vaccines in Grade 6 and 7 and dTpa in Grade 10.

  4. 4.

    A catch-up program is also available for boys aged 14–15 years of age at school.

  5. 5.

    CSL Biotherapies is a subsidiary of CSL Limited, a global, specialty biopharmaceutical company that researches, develops, manufactures and markets products to treat and prevent serious medical conditions.

  6. 6.

    In the state of NSW PDHPE is the key learning area that covers health and physical education related content.

  7. 7.

    See <http://immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/faq-related-payments> accessed 23rd December 2013.

  8. 8.

    HPV 6 and 11 also cause 100 % of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) cases, which are warty growths in the upper airway that can cause significant airway obstruction or voice change (Australian Government 2008).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Kellie Burns

  2. Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Cristyn Davies

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  1. Kellie Burns
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Correspondence to Kellie Burns .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Katie Wright

  2. Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Julie McLeod

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Burns, K., Davies, C. (2015). Constructions of Young Women’s Health and Wellbeing in Neoliberal Times: A Case Study of the HPV Vaccination Program in Australia. In: Wright, K., McLeod, J. (eds) Rethinking Youth Wellbeing. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-188-6_5

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