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February 16, 2024
A warning has been issued by researchers in The BMJ regarding the appropriation of feminist health narratives by commercial interests, highlighting the potential risks of medicalization, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment for women’s health.
Dr. Tessa Copp and colleagues from The University of Sydney raise concerns about the exploitation of feminist discourse by companies marketing new technologies, tests, and treatments to women, often without sufficient evidence to support their efficacy.
While feminist health narratives have historically been associated with female autonomy and empowerment, these narratives are now being harnessed to promote healthcare interventions that may not benefit the broader population of women, the researchers argue.
Two examples cited by the researchers illustrate this trend. The first involves the use of the anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) test, which is marketed to women as a tool to assess fertility. Despite evidence suggesting its limitations in predicting fertility, fertility clinics and online companies continue to promote the test, leveraging feminist rhetoric to encourage women to take control of their reproductive health.
Similarly, the notification of breast density to women undergoing breast cancer screening is presented as a matter of women’s “right to know.” However, concerns arise regarding the promotion of additional screening without clear evidence of its efficacy and the potential for increased anxiety among women.
While technological advancements and access to information have the potential to empower women, the researchers emphasize the importance of transparency regarding the limitations and uncertainties surrounding healthcare interventions.
In a linked editorial, Sarah Hawkes from University College London underscores the need for collective action to address the activities of commercial organizations in the healthcare sector. Drawing on successful advocacy efforts by women’s movements in various contexts, Hawkes highlights the importance of coalition-building to promote women’s health rights as a matter of social justice.
As concerns mount over the commercialization of feminist health narratives, researchers and advocates are calling for greater transparency, evidence-based practices, and collective action to protect and improve women’s health outcomes.
The full articles are available in The BMJ, offering a critical examination of the intersection between feminism, healthcare, and commercial interests in shaping women’s health narratives.
