The Selling of Hrt: Playing on the Fear Factor

Most women will have seen a headline announcing 'heart disease is the number one killer of women', and the prevention of both osteoporosis and heart disease in women has become 'hot' research, and it might seem that feminist activists should be applauding this response of the medical establishment.

Abstract

For decades, women's health activists have been critical of the medical system's lack of interest in olderwomen's issues. Osteoporosis and heart disease were excellent examples of the problematic relationship between the medical system and women who use it. These prevalent, serious, life-threatening conditions have been characterized by an almost total lack of information and research. Until quite recently, most women had never heard of osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease was so consistently labelled as a 'men's' disease that the major studies included tens of thousands of men and no women. The situation has changed dramatically in the last few years. Osteoporosis and heart disease can no longer serve as examples of neglect of older women's issues. Osteoporosis has become a household word in the United States. Most women will have seen a headline announcing 'heart disease is the number one killer of women', and the prevention of both osteoporosis and heart disease in women has become 'hot' research. It might seem that feminist activists should be applauding this response of the medical establishment. Any woman approaching menopause is likely to receive information from her health-care practitioners on the dangers of osteoporosis and heart disease. So why are we complaining? Aren't femini sts ever satisfied?