Essay

Bridging the Gender Health Gap

by Cassandra Delage, Founder and CEO

Published June 10, 2024 — Last Reviewed March 21, 2024

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Excerpt

The gender health gap, deeply rooted in historical biases, societal norms, and structural inequalities, presents a multifaceted challenge that affects various aspects of healthcare. This gap is evident in the underrepresentation of women in medical research, biased funding allocation, and disparities in healthcare outcomes.

Introduction

The lack of funding within women's health and the persistence of the gender health gap are consequences of historical neglect and underrepresentation of women in medical research and clinical trials. This bias has led to a limited understanding of women-specific health issues and significant disparities in healthcare outcomes. Projects focusing on women-specific health issues receive substantially less funding compared to male-focused research endeavours. On average, research projects on women's health received approximately 35% less funding than studies on male-specific conditions [1].

 

Additionally, the under-funding of research on women-specific health issues significantly hampers efforts to enhance diagnosis, treatment, and management strategies for conditions that disproportionately affect women, consequently impeding progress in women's healthcare. A report by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) highlighted the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials, with women comprising only 38% of participants in NIH-funded clinical trials [2]. This underrepresentation not only affects the generalisability of research findings but also limits the development of gender-specific diagnostic tools and treatment interventions.

Societal and Cultural Biases Towards Women 

Societal and cultural biases play a significant role in widening the gender health gap, as they shape perceptions of women's health needs. Gender norms and stereotypes dictate societal attitudes towards women's health, resulting in the marginalization of women's health concerns and a lack of adequate funding allocation. Consequently, conditions like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and autoimmune diseases receive disproportionately less attention and research funding when compared to male-specific conditions [3]. This disparity in funding perpetuates gender disparities in healthcare outcomes.

 

The gender gap in research funding and representation further exacerbates the issue. Women constitute only 30% of the world's researchers, indicating a notable underrepresentation in research roles. Moreover, this disparity extends to the allocation of research funding, with studies showing that women researchers who did not include their first names on grant applications received greater funding compared to those who did include their names. This study sheds light on the pervasive gender bias in grant review processes and highlights the challenges faced by women researchers in securing funding for their work [3].

Addressing the Gap

The gender health gap is a complex issue rooted in historical biases, societal norms, and structural inequalities. It would be presumptuous to have the perfect, all-in-one solution in addressing such an important matter. It requires increasing funding for research on women's health, advocating for gender-sensitive healthcare policies, promoting gender equity in healthcare but also, so, so much more. It requires addressing the root causes, yet having an impact on more superficial but visible issues can create discussions and bring subjects to light. I am not a politician, nor do I have the ultimate solution. However, I do believe that efforts to challenge societal biases, raise awareness of gender disparities in healthcare, and foster inclusivity in research funding are essential for bridging the gender health gap [4].

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References to the research cited in this article can be found in the "References" tab at the top of this page.

Contributors

Author(s)

Cassandra Delage

Founder and CEO of Bia

References

Bia follows strict article guidelines and only uses credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. In addition, when necessary, each article is reviewed by a member of our healthcare community to further ensure up-to-date information.

[1] Lebowitz, M. S., Levine, R. B., & Furberg, R. D. (2018). Comprehensive analysis of funding for women's health research: 2008-2015. Journal of Women's Health, 27(5), 595-604.

[2] National Institutes of Health. (2019). Consideration of sex as a biological variable in NIH-funded research. Retrieved from https://orwh.od.nih.gov/sex-gender/nih-policy-sex-biological-variable.

[3] Kaatz, A., Magua, W., Zimmerman, D. R., & Carnes, M. (2014). A quantitative linguistic analysis of National Institutes of Health R01 application critiques from investigators at one institution. Journal of Women's Health, 29(1), 36-42.

[4] National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2021). NIH Policy and Guidelines on The Inclusion of Women and Minorities as Subjects in Clinical Research. Retrieved from https://grants.nih.gov/policy/inclusion/women-and-minorities/guidelines.htm

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