Doing Harm

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In this hard-hitting expose, the editorial director of Feministing.com reveals how gender bias permeates medicine and healthcare, resulting in inadequate and dangerous treatment for women. Modern medicine is failing women, with half of American women suffering from chronic health conditions like autoimmune disorders and depression, and these numbers are rising. Research shows that women often present different symptoms than men and may respond differently to treatments. Despite a law mandating women's inclusion in health research for over twenty years, doctors still face a knowledge gap in women's health and are influenced by unconscious biases that compromise the doctor-patient relationship. This leads to misdiagnoses and dismissals of women’s health concerns as mere stress or psychological issues. Maya Dusenbery combines scientific research, expert interviews, and personal stories to provide a comprehensive look at how sexism in medicine adversely affects women. She explains the root causes of this bias and its consequences while proposing actionable steps to address it. This eye-opening work serves as a crucial call to action for healthcare providers and women alike, highlighting the urgent need for change in the medical landscape.