Gender Bias in Healthcare: Listening to Women

Men and women historically have different needs when it comes to healthcare, but women are often overlooked when it’s time for their issues to be addressed. According to the Journal of the American Heart Association, women spend 29% longer waiting to be evaluated for chest pains than men. Additionally, women were 25% less likely to be given strong pain killers, like opioids, when being treated for acute abdominal pain. 

Outside of these surveys, women have been popping up online sharing their stories about the issues they experience accessing the healthcare they need. Often, these stories center around women not being listened to or taken seriously when they describe their symptoms for physical illnesses.

Pain, in general, seems to be largely downplayed for women, especially when it comes to maternal care and other situations specifically related to women such as IUD insertion and endometriosis symptoms and it’s even worse for women minorities. A study done by MBRACE-UK found Black women are 3.7 times more likely to die during or after pregnancy when compared to white women.

So, the question remains, how does this problem get solved, and what can be done about it in the future?

First, women must advocate for themselves and not back down when they are dismissed. Ask for a new provider, take a trusted person to corroborate your story, and stay strong until you are believed.

From the perspective of healthcare professionals, there is work to be done when it comes to listening to women. Training needs to be implemented to help overcome existing biases and assumptions. This can improve understanding and help develop empathetic communication skills.