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Cited by 170Sex and Gender in HealthcareDiversity and Career in MedicineGender, Health, and Social Inequality

A two way view of gender bias in medicine

Open access
Ruiz, M T, Verbrugge, L M·1997·Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
DOI 10.1136/jech.51.2.106PMC PMC1060427
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Abstract

It isn't true, couldn't be; there must be other variables not taken into account that confound the results." This was the remark of an incredulous psychiatrist colleague to the statement that there is reasoned evidence of inequalities in health care based on patient gender.His re- action aligns with that of health professionals' and researchers' longing for simplicity in out- comes and also with a contemporary style of data analysis.It is not unusual to hear state- ments like his when criticisms are voiced about health services for women compared to men.This editorial comment considers how health care contributes to the health inequalities as- sociated with gender, a question addressed by many since the WHO European Report in 1990.16There are two ways in which health service delivery and research can involve gender biasfirstly, by assuming that women's and men's health situations and risks are similar, when in fact they are not, and secondly, by assuming differences where there are actually similarities.Actions and research that follow either approach may influence women's health outcomes in negative ways.An increasing num- ber of scientific papers on gender bias in the past five years has intensified the debate be- cause results often confirm the hypothesised presence of inequity.Yet there remain some conceptual, methodological, and empirical lim- itations that keep the picture hazy.

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  • These two traditional approaches have given rise to the emergence of two types of health practices identified as the main causes of inequality and inequity in health.

    “These two traditional approaches have given rise to the emergence of two types of health practices identified as the main causes of inequality and inequity in health (Jiménez, 2014; Ruiz & Verbrugge, 1997).”

    From Health From a Gender Perspective (2017) · cites this paper as Ruiz & Verbrugge, 1997

    The passage labeled Abstract (page not provided) describes two approaches to gender-biased health service delivery: assuming similarity where women and men differ, or difference where they are similar. It says practices following either approach may negatively affect women’s health and contribute to gender-related inequity, but does not identify them as the main causes of inequality and inequity in health generally. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Cites

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Cited by

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Authors
Ruiz, M. T., & Verbrugge, L. M.
Affiliations
University of Alicante (ES)
ORCID
Ruiz, M T
Venue
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Publisher
BMJ
Published
1997-04
Volume
51
Issue
2
Pages
106-109
ISSN
  • 0141-7681 (ISSN-L)
  • 0143-005X
  • 1470-2738
DOI
10.1136/jech.51.2.106
PMC
PMC1060427
OpenAlex
W2095236471
Cited by
170
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Sex and Gender in Healthcare
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Diversity and Career in Medicine
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Gender, Health, and Social Inequality
Keywords
gender bias, gender disparities in health care, women's health, sex differences in health, health disparities, women's health services, health research methodology, confounding variables
MeSH terms
Chronic Disease, Delivery of Health Care, Female, Humans, Male, Morbidity, Prejudice, Research Design, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Social Perception, Women's Health

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