March is Women’s History Month, an important recognition for half of our country’s population. Throughout our country’s history, there is no doubt women have always been critical contributors, yet undervalued, in building the health infrastructure we all benefit from today. From Florence Nightingale and Madame Curie to Gloria Steinman and Michelle Obama – our female role models show up as midwives, nurses, doctors, innovators, public health advocates, and activists.
Despite the achievements of remarkable women throughout the ages and the multifaceted role women play in every sector, from the factory floor to the boardroom, from the fields to the classrooms, the reality is that women are overwhelmed and undervalued, their struggles are written off, and ultimately their health is compromised. While women have made significant societal and economic strides, improvements to women’s health have been grossly ignored – and that needs to change.
The burden of disease is not equal among all – especially for women of color
Beyond female-specific diseases like uterine and ovarian cancers, women face unique risk factors outside of biology that increase their risk for numerous types of diseases.
Take stroke – older women are more adversely affected by stroke than men because they are more likely to be living alone and widowed before and after stroke, are more often institutionalized after stroke, and have a poorer recovery than men.
In fact, for women of color, stroke risk is even more disproportionate. Stroke is the leading cause of death for African American women and the fourth leading cause of death for Hispanic women. For coronary heart disease, Black women have a higher prevalence compared to white women. These diseases share common risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, which are also more prevalent in women of color.
Yet what about the silent struggles with mental health illnesses? In the U.S., 29-44% of Black women experience postpartum depressive symptoms but few are properly identified as having postpartum depression and receive mental health services. A study revealed that 60% of Black women experience symptoms of depression but only 12% seek help and/or treatment. Life event stressors such as trauma, violence, and racial discrimination place women of color at particularly high risk for psychological distress and ultimately impact their health.
Better support for women through policy and research
If we do not address the root causes that exacerbate the risk for stroke, cardiovascular disease, postpartum depression, and other types of diseases and health disparities among women, our economy and progress will suffer. When more women participate in the workforce, economies grow and society flourishes.
Two strategies that must be simultaneously addressed to build a future that is more just, equitable, and prosperous for all.
- We need comprehensive policies that protect and support women from equitable wages to paid family leave. The gender pay gap (women earn an average of 80% of what men earn) in the U.S. has not moved in two decades – this needs to change now. It is even more disheartening that our nation is the only country among 41 nations that does not mandate any paid leave for new parents. A woman’s unpaid labor spent on caregiving is seldom recognized or remunerated, perpetuating cycles of gender inequality and economic injustice. The COVID-19 pandemic was especially hard on women’s workload and household responsibilities forcing many out of the workforce.
- We need better representation of women in research and clinical trials. Evidence clearly shows that women face unique biological differences, risk factors, and symptoms that disproportionately impact their rate of disease. We need to conduct more research that includes women both as part of the research team and study participants. Gender-based prevention measures or therapies are more effective than the usual “one- size- fits all” approach and would profit cases of both genders. This is not just a matter of equality, but an essential advancement of our medical knowledge to improve treatment and outcomes for all.
Our conversation about building a better future must extend beyond Women’s History Month because these issues are relevant every single day. With all the progress we have made for equality, I am hopeful this is a call to action to commit to ongoing research, education, and activism to honor the past, empower the present, and progress toward a more equitable future for all women.
