Women’s health is under-researched and it’s leading to a lack of education. October is World Menopause Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, two major things that can happen in women’s lives. The reason these months exist is to help bring awareness to both of these issues and support women as they navigate the changes to their bodies. Because women’s health is often put on the back burner, these months help create a community where women can share their stories and experiences, and be a support system for others. As people celebrate this month, it’s important to highlight that women’s health needs to become a priority all year long, instead of just during October.
Studies show that men’s health has historically been studied more extensively than women’s health. Men’s bodies are often the test subjects for different diseases and illnesses, but research shows that the same diseases and conditions affect women and men differently. So how is this justifiable in today’s health climate? The healthcare industry as a whole needs to invest in women’s health research and education, so that women are taken care of. These statistics not only show that men’s health is a priority, but that women have continuously been left out of the equation.
Because of this, women’s health concerns often get put on the backburner which can create serious health risks for them. Women are left with questions about their bodies, especially when it comes to menstruation, fertility, and menopause. When they are left without support for their concerns, symptom management becomes even harder. Healthcare is for everyone, not just a specific set of people.
“Women’s health deserves to be taken more seriously across the board. Just 5 years ago, in 2019, women became the majority in medical school for the first time in history. It’s no coincidence that women’s health disparities are getting more attention by the media and healthcare policymakers – it coincides with the increase of women physicians,” says DoorSpace CEO Sarah M. Worthy.
There needs to be equal opportunity throughout every level of the healthcare system. To ramp up women’s health education and research, organizations need to start investing in women to take on leadership positions. Now this is not to say that men shouldn’t be in charge, but when women are given the same opportunities, they can create a space where women’s health can also become a priority.
Women deserve to have a voice in the industry, and not only will this allow for more research into their health, but can help establish a sense of trust between the organization and its patients. When a group of people are left on the backburner, this creates a divide, when there should be unity.
“Asking why these disparities exist is the wrong question – the right question is how do we get more women in healthcare leadership positions because when women are in charge of healthcare, patients get better results. But today, less than 20% of the senior healthcare leaders are women, despite the healthcare workforce being 80% female. There needs to be a continual opportunity for education, to establish a high level of care all around. Health executives need to prioritize growth at every level so that both women and men can be taken care of,” says Worthy.
With October officially here, it’s important to educate people about women’s health. Their bodies are so complicated and the lack of research is putting their lives at risk. Education should start at an early age so that women can advocate for themselves and get the help they need when problems arise. Investing in technology and tools that can stimulate research is the best way to begin prioritizing women’s health and creating equal opportunity throughout the healthcare industry. From female patients to female doctors, it’s time to make a safe space for growth and education so that people can be taken care of.
Published by: Holy Minoza
