Gender bias in healthcare is a global issue that can have significant consequences for patients’ health. It means that men and women are not always treated the same way in medical settings. This often leads to unequal care and health outcomes. But what exactly does gender bias mean, and why is it important to understand this?
What is gender bias in healthcare?
Gender bias is a form of prejudice where healthcare providers consciously, but usually unconsciously, respond differently to patients based on their gender. For example, doctors and nurses might perceive a man with chronic pain as tough, while they quickly suspect a woman of exaggerating her pain. As a result, men and women are often treated differently, which may not always be justified based on their medical condition. Gender bias in healthcare can quickly lead to delayed diagnoses, unequal treatments, and even negative health outcomes.
Examples of gender bias in healthcare
Gender bias manifests in various ways. You can see it, for example, in:
Specific women’s health complaints
Male doctors often downplay specific women’s health issues. For example, in 2024, the news reported that many doctors felt it wasn’t necessary to anesthetize women when placing an IUD, even though many women frequently fainted from the pain during this procedure.
Hormonal complaints – or not?
This can lead to complaints such as mood swings and migraines. This can lead to complaints such as mood swings and migraines. However, these complaints may also have other causes. A doctor should not just dismiss women with a standard response, but take the time to ensure the diagnosis is correct.
Treatment as for men
The results of clinical trials are not always gender-specific, so it is unclear whether medications and treatments have the same effect on women as on men. Often, women of reproductive age are excluded from trials, meaning treatments are primarily tested on men.
Why women are often disadvantaged
One of the reasons for gender bias in healthcare is that most existing clinical studies focus on men. Medications and treatments may be effective for the majority of men, but they may not work for women or could even cause problems. Research into heart attacks is notorious in this regard: the symptoms of a heart attack are very different in men than in women. If doctors and nurses follow the standard guidelines, they may miss the symptoms in the emergency room and mistakenly send the woman home.
The impact of gender bias on health
According to current figures from the Heart Foundation, 106 people die daily from cardiovascular disease, with 52 men and 54 women. Incorrect or delayed diagnoses are likely the reason more women than men are dying from heart disease. The consequences of gender bias in healthcare are therefore severe. In addition, women may start avoiding healthcare altogether if they feel they are regularly dismissed or ignored.
What can be done to reduce gender bias?
First and foremost, awareness is key to addressing gender bias in healthcare: healthcare providers need to become aware of their biases and work to reduce them. Furthermore, medical research and studies need to become more inclusive. This means including women and people from diverse backgrounds in research. By doing so, we ensure that medications and treatments are safer for everyone.
Inclusive communication as the key to change
Inclusive communication in healthcare helps combat gender bias and improve care. This can be done by addressing both men and women in educational materials and making them aware of differences in symptoms for the same complaints. Inclusive language is also crucial in internal communication. Develop guidelines based on inclusive scientific research, and use tools or software such as Textmetrics to make your texts inclusive and bias-free.
Read more about gender bias and start taking action today!