As a feminist, I believe that there is a reason why society has developed the way it did. Factors such as gender bias, social perceptions, and political or economic interests may all have contributed to the lack of medical research targeted specifically for the female body. Putting women in second place when it comes to the important things in life – or death, as in this case – has a long history in our society. Fortunately, for women this situation is changing rapidly; however, as a society we need to know what went wrong in the past so that we do not make the same mistakes again. My personal interest in this topic arose from a simple family anecdote. One day at a family reunion, having recently had a mammogram, I commented on how modern technology had made these tests so much less painful. My 80 year-old mother wisely remarked that, in her opinion, had we been talking about testicular cancer, painful machines would have long been eradicated. This incisive comment, my academic interest in women’s health, and my Women’s Studies readings made me think about the differences in medical research when it comes to males vs. females.
At this time, I am still trying to connect this contemporary issue with two of the writers assigned. Hopefully if I continue to read their biographies, I will find the right ones. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
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