BMJ 2001;323:1061-1063 ( 3 November )

Education and debate

Sex, gender, and health: the need for a new approach

Lesley Doyal, professor in health and social care

School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TZ

l.doyal@bristol.ac.uk

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The past two decades have seen considerable activism by women to improve the quality of their health and health care. Recently men too have begun to draw attention to the negative implications of "maleness" for their health. There is an increasing danger that these campaigns could be drawn into conflict with each other as they compete for public sympathy and scarce resources. If conflict is to be avoided there needs to be a much clearer understanding of the impact of both sex and gender on health. This can then provide the foundation for gender sensitive policies that take seriously the needs of both women and men.


Table Removed (Available Only in the Full Text)



    Sex and health: the biology of risk

The differences between male and female reproductive systems have always been an important consideration in healthcare delivery. This reflects the crucial role of high quality family planning and obstetric services in enabling women to realise their potential for health. Despite recent progress, around half . . . [Full text of this article]


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