Women are taking a much more active role in their health care. Several organizations such as the Society for Women's Health Research, Caucus for Women's Issues, the National Women's Health Resource Center, and the American Medical Women's Association have emerged as advocates to publicize and influence health policies. More women are entering the health care field as physicians, especially as gynecologists and hospital administrators, assuming more responsibility in decision making processes. The concept of a health care team tied to a holistic health perspective has helped in this regard.
The women's health movement has emerged as a challenge to mainstream modern medicine. Blatantly sexist attitudes regarding the sexual inferiority of women still run rampant in this system. The movement is helping to empower women with the belief that alternatives to traditional health care are not only possible, but beneficial. Women are encouraged to take an active role in all phases of health and health care.
A basic assumption of the movement is that women have not had control over their bodies or their health. It wasn't until 1994 that research was required to be done with women and minorities as test subjects. Most of the knowledge that is in use today was done on white males. Dosages for heart medications were achieved by conducting trials on only males. There are important physiological differences between men and women; women have not had a sufficient amount of medical representation. The specific diagnosis and treatment of diseases in women is based on a male-dominated system where actions can be harmful to the health and well-being of women.
It's wonderful that women are becoming more active and influential in health care. Women have always been the caregivers, and were often the ones who dealt with health issues, before the patriarchal outlook on medicine began. Women will be able to supply modern medicine with a new outlook that could greatly benefit us all.
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