Action Alert | Women in Healthcare - Their Voices Matter
On November 17th-19th, 2022, the European Endometriosis League will be holding an Endometriosis Masterclass. Endometriosis is a gynecological condition affecting 2-10% of American women of childbearing age. It occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it, causing excessive menstrual cramps, abnormal/heavy menstrual flow, and pain during intercourse. This is an illness that only those with a uterus are at risk of having, yet the masterclass is being led by 7 cisgender male experts and no women. Once again, men are leading discussions on women’s bodies while those who are affected are not given a voice - these are issues within healthcare we must address.
Women hold 76% of all healthcare jobs, with 9 in 10 women being nurses, yet they are still continually miscounted when it comes to conferences and panels on healthcare. This miscounting of women was written about in a previous GenderAvenger article on gender biases amongst healthcare professionals. Women in healthcare are continually disrespected, not addressed by their proper title of “Dr.”, and mocked for bringing up those concerns. This “de-professionalizing” invalidates the work that women do within healthcare, something that is especially disheartening when it comes to issues like endometriosis.
Here's what folks from the community had to say:
How can conferences like the Endometriosis Masterclass or other healthcare events work to include women in their panels?
This is where GenderAvenger comes in. While it can be easy to go out and go after organizations for their failure to represent women, we must also work to find solutions. Conferences can utilize tools such as the GenderAvenger Tally to see if they have an appropriate number of women being represented. They can also utilize tools such as the Women Speakers List where women can nominate themselves or can be nominated as speakers for events in their field.
Light the Flame with Inspiring Reads
Women are systematically discredited within the healthcare field. This has significant impacts on the health of women and the resources available to them, as well as how seriously their pain is taken. Look at the readings below for some more information on the lack of women’s representation within healthcare.
Decades of inequities and burnout are causing women to abandon healthcare jobs, as they feel like their labor isn’t appreciated.
Gender bias in healthcare causes women to not receive the medical care that they deserve. Acknowledging the work and opinions of women healthcare professionals is key to solving this.
This post was written by GenderAvenger Harvard IOP Summer Intern Eden Getahun. Learn more about Eden and her passion for gender equality and healthcare here.
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📣🚨 No more discussions of women’s bodies without women! #GenderAvenger