Gender Bias In The Healthcare System
Despite there being significant improvement and strides toward gender equality in many aspects, such as diminishing the pay gap between men and women, the healthcare system still has aspects of gender bias. These biases manifest in many ways, including the dismissal of women’s symptoms and the underrepresentation of women in clinical research.
Historical Context
Medical knowledge had always been conducted by men, for men, and with the male body considered as the default model for medical study. It meant that there was a lack of knowledge of the female anatomy, and most symptoms of health issues were based on those of men. It was said that people at the time thought that the female body was wrong. In the third century, Aristotle described the female body to be the inverse of the male body. With females having genitalia that was turned outside in. Women were hence marked for their anatomical differences from men, hence were defined medically as faulty.
These biases in healthcare and medical fields at the time have continued to somewhat stem into modern practice. Historically, the medical field was dominated by men and male perspectives. It was in 1849 that Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to have a medical degree, paving the way for women in the medical profession. However, for centuries, men have been leading medical fields, pioneering medical research and medical practices. Heart attack symptoms, for example, were initially based on the symptoms of men, and because of a lack of understanding of women’s anatomy and a lack of studies conducted on women, some women ended up misdiagnosed (over 50% cases), since the classic symptoms of heart attack are different in women than in men. Cardiovascular disease was mainly considered a man’s disease, and it was another reason for the misdiagnosis of heart conditions in women, even though heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in women.
Dismissal of Women’s Symptoms
Studies have shown that women are more likely than men to have their pain and symptoms dismissed or attributed to psychological factors. It’s known as medical gaslighting, and there have been numerous instances where women have felt that their symptoms and worries have been talked down. Women have been placed on waiting lists longer for cancer and heart disease diagnoses than men. What's more, there have been instances where some women have been denied painkillers or have to wait longer for painkillers than men (for example, men seem to wait forty-nine minutes for an analgesic for acute abdominal pain, but women have to wait sixty-five minutes).
The Gender Gap in Medical Research
In regards to reproductive health, even though it is a critical aspect of women’s healthcare, it has been poorly understood. When pregnancy has gotten devoted attention, it overshadows other, critical health issues that women face, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (POC), and menopause. These health issues are often under-researched, and thus, there is insufficient care and support for those, who are affected. This, again links back to a lack of understanding of women’s anatomy and a lack of research done on women.
Mental health is also overlooked and undertreated. Women are more likely to experience certain mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. The idea that women’s inexplicable complaints were all in her heads, is something that persists today. Female patients are frequently told that their anxiety or depression is a result of their hormonal cycle- either menstruation or menopause.
An example of discrimination in this context was when a woman was finally diagnosed with lupus after ten years of chronic kidney problems and excruciated joint pain. She was prescribed antidepressants and accused of being a drug addict. Even now, she has difficulty getting past the ER gatekeepers because of the assumption that she’s seeking drugs.
Moving Towards Equity
Gender bias in healthcare is complex and is a prevalent issue. It cannot be changed overnight. However, acknowledging that there is a bias and taking steps towards equality can create a more fair and just healthcare system, in which women’s health and concerns are addressed appropriately and receive the attention that is required.
The only way that we can move past the gender bias in healthcare is to address that there is a bias, and this is a multifaceted approach.
People need to emphasize the importance of considering gender differences so treatment and diagnosis can be improved and raise awareness about symptoms men have regarding health issues different from those that women have. It would lead to the efficiency in diagnosis.
Women should be empowered and confident to advocate their own health needs. It includes encouraging women to seek second opinions if they feel that their concerns are not being taken seriously. There should also not be uplifting gender stereotypes passed on through decades that women’s concerns are all in their heads (example of hysteria).
The government and healthcare institutions must implement policies that promote gender equality in healthcare. It includes funding for research on women’s health.
Reference:
CLEGHORN, E. (2021). The Long History of Gender Bias in Medicine. [online] Time. Available at: https://time.com/6074224/gender-medicine-history/ [Accessed 28 May 2024].
Moyer, M.W. (2022). Women Are Calling Out ‘Medical Gaslighting’. The New York Times. [online] 28 Mar. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/well/live/gaslighting-doctors-patients-health.html [Accessed 28 May 2024].
Kiesel, L. (2017). Women and Pain: Disparities in experience and treatment. [online] Harvard Health Blog. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/women-and-pain-disparities-in-experience-and-treatment-2017100912562 [Accessed 28 May 2024].
Seegert, L. (2018). Women more often misdiagnosed because of gaps in trust and knowledge. [online] Association of Health Care Journalists. Available at: https://healthjournalism.org/blog/2018/11/women-more-often-misdiagnosed-because-of-gaps-in-trust-and-knowledge/ [Accessed 28 May 2024].
Written by: Achinthya P.
Moderated by: Joanna
