Gender bias can cause healthcare professionals to provide lower quality care to women. Learning to self-advocate in healthcare settings can help women participate in their care and receive equitable treatment.
Widespread gender bias in the healthcare system affects how healthcare professionals perceive and treat women. This can result in women receiving lower quality care than men.
Because society generally regards doctors as trustworthy authority figures, women may feel powerless or lack the confidence to self-advocate for equitable healthcare.
This article looks at barriers to health self-advocacy for women and how women can advocate for satisfactory healthcare.
Barriers to health self-advocacy for women persist despite evidence of healthcare professionals providing inequitable care to women.
Gender bias in healthcare affects how doctors communicate with, provide diagnoses to, and treat women. For example, research suggests that doctors:
delay diagnosing certain conditionsTrusted Source , such as bleeding disorders, in women as compared to men- more frequently dismiss legitimate health concerns in women, such as chronic pain
- downplay symptoms of heart attacks in women, which may lead to higher rates of death among women
Inequitable healthcare also influences women’s level of healthcare satisfaction. In a 2022 survey of women who had visited healthcare professionals in the United States within the past 2 years:
- 29% reported that doctors had dismissed their concerns
- 15% reported that healthcare professionals did not believe they were telling the truth
- 13% reported that healthcare professionals suggested that the women were to blame for their health problems
- 19% reported that a doctor made assumptions about them without asking
Despite evidence of inequitable healthcare and low healthcare satisfaction, many women still find it difficult to advocate for equitable care. This may be because healthcare is paternalistic, often holding doctors up as unquestionable authority figures.
Society continues to view doctors as ultimate authorities despite clinical evidence to the contrary, and in spite of the lived experiences of many women. This societal norm may affect women’s confidence and discourage them from advocating for themselves.
Research suggests that doctors also often view themselves as authoritative and can be resistant to people challenging or questioning their authority in healthcare settings. This may serve as a barrier to self-advocacy for people who want to avoid potential conflict.
Women may also face other barriers to self-advocacy, such as a lack of knowledge and resources. Although you may want to self-advocate for better healthcare, not knowing where or how to begin can feel overwhelming and intimidating.
The following information may help you self-advocate for equitable healthcare.
Learn about your condition
If you have a diagnosis, researching as much as you can about your condition may help you feel more confident in asking questions and participating in decisions about your health.
Gaining knowledge from reputable sources could help you better understand your condition and may empower you to suggest alternative treatments or practices to healthcare professionals.
Find a specialist
Viewing doctors as authority figures whom you should not question can be a barrier to self-advocacy. Instead, you may want to try to view healthcare professionals as partners who should not exclude you from healthcare decision making.
It may be helpful to look for a specialist who will listen to your concerns and include you in care decisions.
Women who are from marginalized groups, are disabled, or are part of the LGBTQIA+ community may face additional barriers to equitable healthcare.
You can research healthcare professionals through online reviews and profiles or obtain referrals from trusted sources. This could help you find healthcare professionals who understand specific aspects of your experience, such as racism and cultural norms.
Read about finding an anti-racist doctor.
Be prepared
Before an appointment, you may want to prepare by writing down or memorizing the information you want to discuss and the questions you intend to ask.
Writing things down in advance can help you stay on track and avoid becoming overwhelmed during the appointment. It may also help prevent healthcare professionals from rushing you or dismissing your concerns.
You can also practice talking about and asserting your healthcare preferences out loud before the appointment.
Enlist support
Asking a friend or family member to go with you to an appointment might help you feel supported and less overwhelmed. You may want to let your companion know how they can help during the appointment. Supportive actions can include:
- just being present and sitting quietly
- taking notes
- asking questions
- speaking up if they feel that the care you receive is unsatisfactory
Keep records
Keeping detailed records of your medical history could help you track your health and treatment. This could improve your communication with healthcare professionals and empower you to participate in your healthcare decisions.
You may want to record:
- which healthcare professionals you have seen
- the diagnoses and recommendations you have received
- any tests you have undergone
- any medications you have taken
- changes in your symptoms
Understand the advice
One of your rights
If you do not fully understand your doctor’s advice, you should not be afraid to ask for further clarification. You can also ask how to contact the doctor if more questions arise.
Your patient rights
You may want to see another doctor or a specialist for various reasons, such as if you:
- feel unsure about or uncomfortable with your doctor’s recommendations
- want to confirm your doctor’s advice
- want to find out about alternative treatments or approaches
- want to discuss health concerns with a healthcare professional who is more receptive and understanding of your needs
Gender bias in healthcare means that women can experience inequitable, unsatisfactory care.
Despite evidence suggesting that women are more likely to receive a lower standard of healthcare, barriers to self-advocacy can discourage women from questioning healthcare professionals.
Health self-advocacy can involve learning about your condition, preparing questions in advance, finding a healthcare professional who specializes in a particular condition, and keeping records of your medical journey.
Self-advocacy can help women get more satisfactory healthcare in a system that can feel overwhelming and inequitable.
