Gender

‘We’re not going to silently suffer through these symptoms’: Breaking the silence and stigma around menopause

There are significant gaps in menopause care across the country. But there are things we can do to change that. Women don't have to suffer through these symptoms and live a lesser quality of life.

Women’s health in the workplace. Here’s why businesses should care.

Women’s health is not only a matter of personal well-being but also a business imperative. We need approaches to bridge the women’s health gap and build inclusive workplaces.

Navigating the digital sea of beauty: Empowering Canadians through media literacy for positive body image and public health

Body-image concerns have soared with the constant exposure to digitally altered and idealized portrayals of beauty. Media literacy is a critical tool in dismantling the harmful impact of such imagery and thoughts.

Toward a healthier pregnancy: Overcoming barriers to prenatal exercise

By participating in evidence-based prenatal physical activity, pregnant people can increase the likelihood of positive health outcomes for themselves and their babies.

Trust us to make our own decisions about breast-cancer screenings

The new U.S. guidance on breast-cancer screening shouldn’t be controversial or a “both sides” issue in Canada. It should serve as a model for the change we need.

It’s time to ban NDAs

Non-disclosure agreements carry significant emotional and physical consequences for victims of gender violence and sexual harassment.  Why are they still allowed?

Having breast cancer impacts sexuality: Why don’t we talk about it?

It's common for women to struggle with sexual health issues after breast cancer. But it isn’t just our bodies that change; the experience of cancer changes our relationship with time, aging and even the arc of life that we imagine for ourselves.

Odds are there is a woman in your life living with diabetes – she deserves better research

As the world celebrates another International Women’s Day, we should reflect on what gender equality really means. Science and research needs to adequately address women's health needs.

Smiling to death: The hidden dangers of being ‘Nice’

Gabor Maté's new book, The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture, explores how pushing down our anger and prioritizing the needs of others before our own are leading causes of chronic illness.

Groundbreaking research into ME/CFS a pandemic ‘silver lining’

ME/CFS is a misunderstood complex chronic illness affecting more than 600,000 Canadians. For decades ME/CFS patients have been left without proper medical support. But now, with the wave of new post-viral illnesses from the COVID-19 pandemic, ME/CFS patients might finally see some answers.

B.C. physicians’ Pap-a-palooza like a ‘golden ticket’ for patients

Many patients without a family doctor struggle to access Pap tests. The demand has become unsustainable. But two B.C. physicians are throwing a "Pap-a-palooza" to help meet the need.

The Nobel Prize, and representation in science

The Nobel Prize is one of the most coveted accolades in academia, but diverse individuals are being left out as awardees. We hope that scientists from underrepresented communities also will feel as if their work will be recognized fairly.

Long COVID – a public health crisis taking out women at the height of their lives

Long COVID symptoms now dominate my life, hopes and dreams. As soon as I realized that I wasn’t getting better after my COVID infection, I went looking for answers.

College must act to ensure equitable health-care outcomes for women, marginalized communities

Differences in surgical outcomes between men and women may be part of a larger gendered public health crisis.

Promoting gender equity in healthy aging matters

Longer lives are one of the greatest achievements in medicine. Yet we see a diminished quality of life for many older adults, especially women, due to inequities institutionalized in health care. So how do we de-institutionalize these inequities?

Study debunks ‘women choose to work less’ myth behind health-care pay gap

A recent Ontario Medical Association reaffirmed that male doctors in Ontario are paid 13.5 per cent more per day than women, and it highlights where the issue is most acute: for example, in the supposedly gender-blind fee-for-service payment system.

Gender and medical specialty choice – have we made progress?

Gender differences in medical specialty choice persist. Here are the factors that play a role in these imbalances – and how residency programs can attract more female applicants.

Vaccine rollout ignoring needs of women

Will we use COVID-19 as an opportunity to take off the blindfold and tailor our vaccine strategies to the unique needs of each gender or will we continue to ignore the needs of women?

‘Painful and difficult’: A BIPOC woman’s journey in medicine

Navigating the medical profession has been a painful and difficult journey. How far have we come in ensuring that women can thrive within the system?

New Divorce Act won’t prevent family violence, critics say