Why Women Aren't Winning at Health

by Anca Griffiths, Alyson McGregor MD, Marjorie Jenkins MD

For women, health is the ultimate glass ceiling.

And for too many of us, the tools we have make it impossible to “win” at health.

The fact is, almost nothing in our global health marketplace is designed to serve and heal women. From external factors like the global male-centric medical model, the predatory wellness industry, and the commoditization of traditional health practices, to internal challenges like stacked societal and familial expectations and our need to power through at all costs, women are beset with health-related obstacles from all sides.

However, when asked, most women will say, “I’m fine.”

Somewhere along the way, we decided that being a woman is a problem to be fixed, not a gift to be embraced. Our health systems at best minimize, and at worst outright ignore, key physiological transitions like menstruation, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause, meaning that women are not supported through the most impactful health experiences of their lives—yet, we’re convinced that, somehow, we are the problem.

In this groundbreaking book, Anca Griffiths, Marjorie Jenkins, MD, and Alyson McGregor, MD, tackle the complex issue of the women’s global health marketplace. With bold insights and piercing clarity, they expose the hidden issues within our current systems, break down the four key reasons why women aren’t winning at health, and show you what you can do to take back control of your health journey. With additional contributions from recognized global experts, they lay a strong groundwork to empower women everywhere to thrive beyond the current status quo—because when women are well, everyone wins.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter Hitting the Glass Ceiling
Chapter Modern Medicine is Male-Centric Medicine
Chapter Medicine, Mindset, and Money
Chapter Beauty, Wellness, and the Myth of the Perfect Woman
Chapter One Size Fits All? Not for Women
Chapter “Cash for Care” and the Influence of Wellness Markets on Medicine
Chapter Ancient Wisdom and the Lost Threads of Healing
Chapter Diagnosing Our Beliefs
Chapter But, We Can
Chapter Finding Your Partners in Health
Afterword
Endnotes
Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
About the Publisher

246 pages, Paperback

Published January 31, 2024

Reviews

[Elizabeth Chan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading. Anca and her co-authors explain why women have been and continue to be underserved in the medical system.

These issues are historical, stemming from health data and trials being focused on men’s bodies and superficial (and grossly inaccurate!) assumptions made about women’s bodies.

The book also explains how our gendered biological differences mean that diseases like cardiovascular diseases present differently in women—and why they are therefore under diagnosed in women, sometimes with fatal outcomes.

The book also explores the predatory aspects of the wellness industry and also explores why “traditional” or “alternative” approaches to medicine and healing have been sidelined — to women’s detriment.

The book closes with how women can empower themselves as users and patients. A wonderful book and call to action.

[Ccdemaio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really well researched (full bibliography) and enlightening about women and healthcare. I read it like a textbook, taking notes along the way, which helped me to retain the information inside it better. I had a few “ah ha!” moments as well. Every woman should read it to understand what we do to ourselves (accepting pain as just part of life) and what our physicians/health practitioners do or do not do well for us. Just one example: most drug testing is done on men. Most of the adverse drug events happen to women, because our bodies are different and the meds were primarily only tested on men.

While this book isn’t the panacea to women’s health care shortfalls, it is a good starting place. Read this!

[RoxAnne Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important non fiction book for women across the globe!