Abstract
There is a widespread belief that doctors are the ‘real’ experts on women’s health and that biomedicine holds the key to improving it. This book demonstrates the limitations of such an approach. Instead of exploring the interior of female bodies, it steps outside to investigate the ways in which women’s lives can make them sick. Through examining economic, social and cultural influences on their well-being it identifies the major obstacles that prevent women from optimising their health.
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Further Reading
Fee, E. and Krieger, N. (1994) Women’s Health, Politics and Power: essays on sex/gender, medicine and public policy, Baywood Publishing Company. A collection of articles that offers a framework for understanding women’s struggles for health, topics include women as health workers, women’s, occupational health, international reproductive health issues and AIDS.
Koblinsky M., Timyan, J. and Gay, J. (1993) The Health of Women: a global perspective (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press). An interesting collection of articles reviewing the international data on a number of women’s health and health care issues, including maternal mortality, violence, nutrition, reproductive rights and mental health. It focuses mainly on third world countries and provides a useful basis for further research.
Martin, E. (1987) The Woman in the Body: a cultural analysis of reproduction (Milton Keynes: Open University Press). An important introduction to the use of anthropological methods in exploring women’s health issues. Based on interviews with a broad spectrum of women in the United States, it contrasts medical views of the female body with those of women themselves.
Miles, A., (1991) Women, Health and Medicine (Milton Keynes: Open University Press). A useful introduction to the sociological literature on women, health and health care in developed countries. It offers a clear account of both the British and American literature and would be of particular value to social science and health studies students.
Smyke, P. (1991) Women and Health (London: Zed Books). A campaigning book that explores the relationship between women, health and development. It includes case studies, a resource guide and suggestions for action.
United States National Institutes of Health (1992) Opportunities for Research on Women’s Health. US Department of Health and Human Services (NIH Publication no. 92-3457). A comprehensive review of the health problems facing women in the United States and a research agenda for their resolution. This important publication identifies the key issues that need to be tackled if the male bias in medical research is to be confronted.
White, E. (1990) Black Women’s Health Book: speaking for ourselves (Seattle: Seal Press). This book offers a broad spectrum of experiences and insights on health issues from African American women. It includes autobiography, history, poetry and interviews as well as a list of organisations in the United States that address black women’s health issues.
Worcester, N. and Whatley, M. (1994) Women’s Health: readings on social economic and political issues, 2nd edn (Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt). A broad ranging collection of articles covering a wide range of women’s health issues. This book is designed particularly for student use and offers valuable material on issues of race, class, gender, sexuality and disability.
World Health Organisation (1992) Women’s Health Across Age and Frontier (Geneva: WHO). A valuable collection of data on women’s health and health care from around the world. It provides useful material for teaching and discussion groups.
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© 1995 Lesley Doyal
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Doyal, L. (1995). In Sickness and in Health. In: What Makes Women Sick. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24030-2_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-24030-2_1
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-54205-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-24030-2
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