What Makes Women Sick: Gender and the Political Economy of Health

by Lesley Doyal

In this important new book, Lesley Doyal draws on a wide range of disciplines to highlight the limitations of medical models in understanding global patterns of health and disease in women. Examining in detail the impact of sexuality, fertility control, reproduction, domestic labour and waged work on women's well-being, she shows how gender divisions in economic and social life affect their experiences of illness, disability and mortality. A concluding chapter illustrates the multiplicity of ways in which women around the world are challenging the threats to their health.

Genres: Medicine, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

Reviews

[Nathan Douthit · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would not have picked up this book on my own, but glad i did. There are some differences in our worldview and therefore our conclusions, but I found the content very interesting and thought provoking.

[Kate]

Really enjoyed this book. Obviously some of the statistics are out of date, but I think the pressures pushing against Women's health are still true today, and therefore are valuable to investigate.

[Allison Tyson]

This is very well researched and readable book, despite being an academic text. However, I have decided not to finish it immediately as it is the sort of writing that provokes further research by the reader. I would recommend this book but I found it's material challenging, especially the chapters entitled Safe Sex and Hazards of Hearth and Home.