October 10, 2017.
In their work Women and health, still a matter of men? (Belin), neurobiologist Catherine Vidal and historian Muriel Salle discuss how certain stereotypes about women and men can harm their health.
Why do women exercise less than men?
What if certain misconceptions about men and women endanger our health? This is what Catherine Vidal and Muriel Salle denounce in a book entitled Women and health, still a matter of men? In this book, they denounce, for example, the fact that little girls are not encouraged enough to play sports, while they need it as much as boys to avoid obesity or diabetes.
But this little example would clearly not be the only one. “ Woman who complains of chest tightness to be given anti-anxiety medication while man is referred to cardiologist “, Advance Catherine Vidal, in 20 minutes. ” Gold, cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women “. These received ideas are said to be very widespread even in the medical world.
Men too are victims of clichés
Many diseases would not be diagnosed early enough in girls. This is the case with autism, because it is more naturally thought that little girls are more discreet and more shy than boys. But is there also discrimination against boys and men? According to Catherine Vidal, men are also victims of certain received ideas. Depression is indeed less well diagnosed in men.
This would also be the case with osteoporosis whereas, at men’s, ” one third of hip fractures are due to this brittle bone disease “, adds the neurobiologist. This subject is taken seriously by the “Gender and Health Research” group of the Ethics Committee of the National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm), which will launch an awareness campaign on preconceived ideas in November. harmful to health.
Marine Rondot
To read also: Slimming: stop the preconceived ideas!
