Addressing Gender Bias in Medicine: How Sexism Threatens Women’s Health — Insights from Harvard Gazette

It’s time to shift the focus of women’s health from just “boobs and tubes.” Experts are urging a broader perspective that tackles the ongoing discrimination and healthcare disparities faced by women. Recently, specialists gathered at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study to discuss the gaps between men’s and women’s health care.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast cancer expert, headlined the discussion. She highlighted a striking fact: women are twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to men. Moreover, symptoms of heart attacks in women, like jaw pain and indigestion, are often labeled as “atypical.”

“The emphasis is too often on reproductive health, neglecting critical issues like heart disease,” said Comen, who is also an associate professor at NYU Langone Health. “When I was in medical school, we only learned about ‘atypical’ chest pain in women, even though heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.”

Comen traced this problem back to historical biases in medicine. Traditionally, healthcare has been largely male-dominated, leading to a misunderstanding of what women’s health entails. For years, women were categorized as overly emotional, a stereotype reflected in outdated medical classifications like “hysteria.” This notion persisted until the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders was updated in 1980.

“Women were viewed as emotional to the extent that female ‘hysteria’ was in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders until 1980.”
— Elizabeth Comen

Even today, these views affect patient care. Comen noted that male cancer patients are often given more information about sexual dysfunction than their female counterparts. Women’s genuine health complaints are sometimes dismissed, with doctors attributing their symptoms to anxiety.

Comen shared a compelling story about a 34-year-old breast cancer patient who suffered a significant health downturn during the pandemic. Despite showing serious symptoms post-COVID, she was initially brushed off as anxious. Comen insisted on a neurology consult, suspecting something more serious. This incident underscores the need for better understanding and acknowledgment of women’s health issues.

Not all news is bleak. Overall health improvements like vaccines and sanitation have also benefited women, who now generally live longer than men. Dr. Deborah Kado of Stanford University shared that today’s newborn girls could live to 100, a dramatic increase compared to previous generations. However, this longer lifespan often comes with 12 to 15 years of poor health, which is still notably longer than the equivalent for men.

Promising advancements are on the horizon, too. Colin Hill, CEO of Aitia, pointed out that medical science is beginning to grasp the complexities of diseases better than ever. With the rise of artificial intelligence in medicine, there’s a real chance to delve deeper into understanding conditions that disproportionately affect women.

“We’re on the brink of real progress in understanding these complex systems,” Hill affirmed. “This could lead to significant breakthroughs in diseases that primarily impact women.”

As these discussions grow, the medical community must prioritize varied aspects of women’s health. A well-rounded approach could lead to significant improvements in healthcare outcomes for women everywhere.

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Cancer,Gender and Sexuality,Health Care,Inequality,Women’s Health