Gender as a Category of Analysis in Medical Knowledge

For centuries, the field of medicine operated under the tacit assumption that, apart from genital organs and reproductive systems, human biology was essentially uniform across genders. However, there is currently a growing recognition of gender-specific health conditions that disproportionately affect women, and exhibit different prevalence, severity, distinct causes, manifestations, and varied outcomes or treatments. This underscores the importance of considering the impact of sex and gender on health, as well as the development, clinical features, course, and experience of diseases. From a philosophical perspective, crucial questions emerge about the role of gender in medicine, the relationship between gender and medical research and practice, and the potential biases that hinder the recognition of gender as a relevant category of analysis. To address these questions two opposing trends are examined: "gender blindness," where relevant differences are overlooked, and "gender stereotyping," where nonexistent or insignificant differences are emphasized. Women's diverse biological and physiological aspects have historically been ignored or marginalized. Simultaneously, persistent stereotypes linking women to motherhood and emotional traits hinder accurate diagnoses and effective interventions. Understanding and addressing these two opposite tendencies is crucial for ensuring equitable treatment, and improving health outcomes for all genders.