Upending women’s health

Abstract

This year is unleashing a series of devastating blows to women’s health worldwide. Cuts to foreign aid.1 Denial of abortion access and reproductive autonomy (doi:10.1136/bmj.r459).2 Targeted attacks on hospitals, including maternity clinics, in conflict areas (doi:10.1136/bmj.r1242).3 Waning support for a UK women’s health strategy (doi:10.1136/bmj.r1600).4 All are consequences of regressive government decisions—decisions designed to be stealth but destined to be harmful. For all the talk about the importance of women’s wellbeing, their health and rights hold the least currency in the present political markets of power and influence. Women’s exploitation is particularly acute in health. Women sustain communities and health systems, often unpaid, and bear the heaviest burdens during crises. Even in female dominated professions—such as nursing, which is critical to domestic and global health goals (doi:10.1136/bmj.r1480)5—women’s work is diminished by gender pay gaps favouring men. Worse, women are …