Abstract:
Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, and attributes that a particular society considers appropriate for men and women based on assumptions about biological sex. It also operates as a major social organizing principle that confers unequal power, status, and resources to men and women, with direct consequences for health. Historic patriarchal and misogynistic beliefs and values are reinforced through social institutions, including health science, which reify gender inequities. This commentary examines two key domains in which the social organization and institutionalization of gender in scientific research affect the conduct of women\'s health research and, by extension, women\'s health outcomes. These domains are: 1) decisions about which topics are prioritized, researched, and funded and 2) the dissemination of research findings. Using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a case study to illustrate broader patterns in scientific research, we present evidence of gender-based inequities in what is prioritized, deemed fundable, and disseminated, and how this affects knowledge production and attention to women\'s health. We highlight efforts and progress made by the NIH and call for additional attention to further address gender-based inequities and their impact on women\'s health research. We conclude with a call for critical social science analyses-ideally supported by the NIH-of the social organization of health science research to identify points of intervention for redressing deep-seated obstacles to advancing research on women\'s health.
摘要:
性别是指社会建构的角色,行为,以及基于对生物性别的假设,特定社会认为适合男性和女性的属性。它也是赋予不平等权力的主要社会组织原则,status,和资源给男人和女人,对健康有直接影响。历史上的父权制和厌恶女性的信仰和价值观通过社会机构得到加强,包括健康科学,这加剧了性别不平等。本评论探讨了科学研究中的社会组织和性别制度化影响妇女健康研究的两个关键领域,通过延伸,妇女的健康结果。这些领域是:1)决定优先考虑哪些主题,研究,并获得资助,以及2)研究结果的传播。使用美国国立卫生研究院(NIH)作为案例研究来说明科学研究中更广泛的模式,我们提供了基于性别的不平等的证据,被认为是可资助的,并传播,以及这如何影响知识生产和对女性健康的关注。我们强调NIH所做的努力和取得的进展,并呼吁进一步关注基于性别的不平等及其对妇女健康研究的影响。最后,我们呼吁进行关键的社会科学分析-理想地由NIH支持-健康科学研究的社会组织确定干预点,以纠正推进妇女健康研究的深层次障碍。