the Dr. Carme Valls claims that medical research and medicine in general take into account gender differences between men and women. Eastthe Catalan endocrinologist is an expert in Medicine with a gender and political perspective. In his book Invisible women for measurementin (Ed. Captain Swing), an updated publication of her 2006 book, the doctor explains that progress has been made since then, “but in many respects, specialists remain invisible to medicine, in others they are it is giving us visibility, “he admits.
Women in the medical services are in the majority, but in management positions, are they still invisible?
-In many ways, yes. This means that being the feminized profession, women’s work is still not valued enough; most scientific work, in which mainly women participate, is directed by men. And studies that are funded if they are more present are more likely to move forward.
Since the first edition of your book, how far have we come?
-There is chiaroscuro. We have made progress in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, as well as in the detection of gender-based violence; medical teams are well prepared to make a screening and follow-up of abused women. However, in terms of menstrual disorders it has not been deepened; chronic pain and aging are also stagnant.
Do youWhy are we no longer taken into account in scientific studies?
-Among other reasons, because man has covered everything. Considering that man is more important comes from the Greeks, from Aristotle. By then it was already asserted that the weak sperm generated a woman and, the strong, a man. Also, as women live longer years on average than men, as we have more defenses against infections, medicine must take care to study them than they die sooner.
Has the same happened with the coronavirus pandemic?
-In covid-19 it is happening that more women become infected; however, more men over the age of 80 die. The truth is that before this age, mortality is very similar between many sexes.
In her post she talks about the guilt of many women, which leads them to work to be perfect. What needs to be done to manage this situation?
-Religions and cultures have devalued and blamed women. Ever since Eve gave the apple to Adam; since African women touched the water in the Sahara when they were menstruating and were guilty of drying up the Sahara. If it makes a person feel guilty you will be able to control them better. That’s why every day we have to tell women that we are not guilty of anything. And that we are worth a lot! that of Girl, you’re worth a lot, of Almodóvar, is valid to overcome the low self-esteem to which many women are subjected from a very young age.
Does the anxiety that all this causes us lead to more psychotropic drugs?
-Women are prescribed five times more antidepressants than men and twice as many anxiolytics.
Is it the solution?
-No. We need to solve the basic problem: having been told that we need to demonstrate what we are capable of doing every day in everything we do. We have to prove twice as much as men. To manage this anxiety you have to be aware that you are not to blame for anything; it is the patriarchy that holds these ideas.
Does this involve a lot of psychological work?
-Yes. But fortunately times are changing and women can partner with others who they believe are worth it on their own. Sometimes they are tough situations, but you have to do them.
Is the personal rebirth of women necessary?
-In many cases, yes. They must regain their desires and pleasures; not following the instructions given to them by their parents, but following their instincts. Everything is slower than we women need, but women must learn to have the best time possible in their daily lives, because this, for example, also takes them away from pain pathologies. And I’m talking about the recovery of desire and personal liberation.
You are a feminist. Do you think the global feminist movement will drive the changes that science also needs?
-I have noticed a big difference since the first edition of my book 25 years ago. Now medical students and professionals are writing to thank me for their publication. The media is also more sensitive to the issue; you are giving us more visibility to women in medicine and science. That what we are talking about was quite difficult then and only a few media outlets echoed, it did not interest most.
Do you dare to predict how the health system will work in the next ten years in terms of gender and diagnosis?
-There is political will, but I am optimistic. There are countries that are pursuing good public policies, such as Canada, where there are ministerial orders that do not grant public money if women are not included in clinical research work. In my opinion, this is the paradigm of change.
“Women are prescribed twice as many antidepressants as men and five times more anxiolytics”
“Religions and cultures have blamed women; we need to remember this’ Girl, you’re worth a lot”
“Women must learn to have the best time possible in their daily lives; they must regain their desire”