1 Research on patients going to the emergency room with abdominal pain found that “women were 13%–25% less likely than men to receive opioid analgesia.” 4 Other widely quoted findings have shown that after heart surgery “female patients were administered sedative medication significantly more frequently than male patients” rather than pain relief. 3 Other literature has focused on the way female patients have poor outcomes due to their “abnormal” symptom presentation (those differing from male patients). Various studies have demonstrated that women wait longer for care due to perceptions that women embellish their pain or symptoms. Medical historians and others have noted that Aristotle found that “female nature was a mutilated kind of male nature and more or less monstrous, perceived in any case as very negative.” 2 Ancient attitudes such as these are some of the culprits to our current problems in the health care ecosystem. Aristotle generally saw women as malformed men. 1,2 Plato, believing that the uterus roams through women’s bodies, thought that women were thrown into disequilibrium and disease due to their uterus. Although there was certainly debate in Ancient Greece, Plato and Aristotle famously had many incorrect opinions on the female body. Yet, some tenacious theories and rumors persist such as the overreliance of using emotional and psychological diagnoses to explain women’s symptoms. Humankind has moved forward admirably from many of the medical misconceptions harbored during the Classical Age in Ancient Greece. However, it is important to acknowledge the historical context of women’s medical treatment by ancient historical sources. March is Women’s History Month and is intended to be a time to discuss, honor, and participate in women’s contributions to American history. By: Silke Schoch, Senior Manager, Research & Programs
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