We are accustomed to thinking and believing that science and feminism are at opposite sides of a societal spectrum, seemingly never intersecting. However, the relationship between the two disciplines is one based on a history of struggle, advocacy, and the demand for equal treatment in the historically male-dominated world of science. Although some progress has been made since the days of Rosalind Franklin, and the many other female scientists who never fully received the credit they deserved, inequalities are still prevalent.
As someone entering the medical field, I am aware that female physicians on average make $20,000 less than their male counterparts, and receive less reimbursement from insurance companies. I am aware that many pharmacological studies are and have been conducted primarily on male participants, even though immunological, hormonal and biological differences exist between the sexes. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women, yet about 85 percent of clinical trial participants are males. I am aware that the burden of oral contraceptives has fallen on women; only recently have clinical trials on male oral contraception been initiated. However, studies were halted due to adverse side effects such as: depression, acne, injection site pain, all of which are also side effects for female contraception. In addition, female contraceptives can increase a women's risk of blood clots and strokes, particularly in older women. This being said, I am also aware that we need women in the medical field who are willing to stand up for women's rights. I plan and hope to help women receive the medical care they need and deserve.
Over the years, the medical field has been far from ethical. From 1800s colonial medicine to 1940s research protocols that deliberately infected individuals with sexually transmitted diseases (without their consent), the US has had a flawed record. Although these may be extreme examples, we need to still question medical ethics today to ensure that representative studies are conducted that are indeed generalizable to the population. This requires research that pays close attention to the intersection of race, class, and gender, and how these factors impact disease and potential treatments. Research carried out only on male participants, white participants, or those of high socioeconomic status, is not representative and could have devastating consequences if generalized to the entire population.
Science is often resistant to systematic or methodological change, while feminism embraces it. Yet, both disciplines seek to improve the lives of individuals and have the potential to work together to change the lives of many. Both feminism and science have been an integral part of my life and will shape the way I practice medicine. For the betterment of the sciences, I hope to build a practice that invites the female perspective and honors female contributions to the medical field.
