As efforts to integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into the workforce, it is time for the medical field to enter the conversation. Women’s health is frequently overlooked in the healthcare system; research surrounding women’s bodies has been disproportionately placed on the back burner compared to research revolving around men’s bodies. Public health cannot exist without the proper attention to women’s health and an understanding of how their bodies work. This systematic oversight can be blamed on a variety of reasons, including the lack of comprehensive training in women’s health by medical professionals and the continuing gender disparity within the healthcare system. If these concerns are not properly addressed, women can continue to slip through the cracks of the healthcare system, potentially never receiving the accurate treatment they require.
The healthcare system has historically been incredibly male-centered. When we study the history of this nation, we frequently note how women were not mentioned nor included in the cultivation of our governing system. All men were created equal, but weren’t all women too?
The lack of research in the medical field stems from a dangerous belief that men are the blueprint for health research and women are simply an aberration. Thus, medical treatment for men is made and then adjusted according to the needs of women. However, this misconception of how women’s bodies function about men is resulting in women being misdiagnosed, mistreated, and misguided on the proper avenues for relief.
Men’s and women’s bodies operate differently and must be researched and treated as such.
Often, medical training surrounding women’s health fails to comprehensively equip healthcare professionals with the necessary tools to address women’s health. In medical school, students barely learn about the realities of the woman’s body, frequently limiting the knowledge these students retain to conditions such as menopause and reproductive health. Other issues like respiratory problems and cardiovascular diseases are underemphasized – in turn, developing healthcare providers who are not prepared to take on women’s health issues.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies heart disease as the leading cause of death among women. Yet, there is insufficient attention and recognition – both in training and practice – to address this reality. The lack of specialized training regarding women’s cardiovascular health is resulting in women being poorly treated for conditions that disproportionately affect them.
The absence of women in leadership roles within the healthcare system is a disparity that is negatively affecting women’s health. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions and research roles. We’ve seen far too many times that a specific group’s lack of representation in the decision-making process results in exacerbated neglect. Without women at the forefront of the medical industry, their valuable—and necessary—experiences and knowledge are not involved in the conversation regarding their bodies.
“The serious disregard for women’s health in the healthcare industry must be met with a systematic change. Sure, history has often prioritized men, but that can no longer be an excuse to dismiss women’s health. Now more than ever, it is imperative to integrate women into leadership positions in the healthcare industry. Women can advocate for one another and ensure that the healthcare system remains relatively free of gender-based biases and disparities,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.
Continuing to overlook women’s health will have dire consequences. Women will proceed to endure unnecessary pain and turmoil because the industry built to serve them is failing to do so. Reproductive health is vital and frequently reserved for women, however, their health goes beyond that.
The healthcare system must address these gaps, working diligently and quickly to create a bridge that reaches beyond the male-centered precedent set in the industry. As times progress and open-mindedness prevail, medical education must equally assess both men’s and women’s health in order to accurately treat patients, regardless of gender. Women carry on integrating medical spaces and must be granted leadership roles to properly confront not only the lack of knowledge surrounding women’s health but also to effectively integrate female healthcare providers into the field.
Women’s health is a vitality that can no longer be ignored. Women should not be subjected to dismissive providers who simply do not know how to adequately diagnose and treat female patients. The neglect of women’s health is a multifaceted issue that requires attention and cooperation. Diversity in thought and decision within the medical field is imperative to ensure women feel heard by their healthcare providers. By doing so, we can ensure that women receive the care they deserve.
Published By: Aize Perez
