MFCM019: Women and Health - A Preliminary Annotated Bibliography.pdf · medico friend circle

MFCM019: Women and Health - A Preliminary Annotated Bibliography.pdf

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extracted text: NOMEN AW'D HEALTH

A PreLim.inary Annotated Bibliography

This is not an exhaustive or even a selective bibliography. It is a list of
books ani documents available at the Jawaharlal Nehru Library, Bombay University
Women’s Studies Unit of the S.N.D.T University ani with me. Some of these are
are available at the Feminist Resource. Centre,°cF.R.C ,H, The only criteria used
is that most of these either acknowledge a broadly feminist’ perspective or
could well contribute to it.

SSxism in Medicine and Health Care
Bart, Pauline. Biological Determinism and Sexism: Is it all in the Ovaries.
In Biology as a Social Weapon. Burgess Publishing Co. 1977- 69-83

Shows how science in the 19th century operated in the interest of status quo
Includes a content analysis of gynaecological textbooks.
=.

2. Doyal, Lesley and Pennell, Imogen. The Political Economy of Health.Pluto Press
1979.
Places wonen's health issues within a global, historical vi£w
of health
and health care contributing to the emergence of a feminist perspective cn
health.
33. fhiffin, Lorna. The Conspicuous Consumptive: Nomen as an invalid. In.The
Nineteenth Century Noman. Ed by Sara Delmont and Lorna Duffin. 1978
Croom Helm. London. 26-$ 6
Based on content analysis of L.an >t between 1850-90, a feminist analysis of
women's illnesses such as consumption, neurasthenia, chlprosis, amennorrhoea
and their reco imended treatment.

4- Easlea, Brian. Science and Sexual Oppression, Niedenfeld and Nioolson. I98I
The Chapter on Biology, Medicine and Viriculture in 19th century Britain
.deals with how social myths about women’s weakness and proneness to fall ill
were incorporated into medicine and suit •
biological explanations fabricated to lend scientific credibility.

Ehrenreich, Barbara and. English, Di er ire. Oomplain
Co mplaints and Di sorters: The
d. Sexual
PolitiDS of Sickness . Glass Mountain Pamphlet no.2. ^he feminist •
—

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Press. 1973New York. 1973

Medicine stands bjtween biology and soeial policy and is one fof the most
powerful sources of sexist ideology in our society. This is a sociological
and political analysis of the history of women’s-ill health and how society
has dealt with the problems.wh
6. Jacoby, Hobin Miller. Science and Sex Roles in the Victorian Era. In Biology
as a Social Weapon, Burgess Publishing Co., Ann Arbor Science for the People
Collective. 1977•5^-65

Examines the mutually reinforcing relationship that existed between 19th
century biological theories and 19th century ideology on sex roles
7. Leibowitz, Lila.
Perspectives on the Evolution of Sex Differences. In Tow
Toward Anthropology of 'No
Nomen edited by Rayna R.Reiter. Monthly Review Press
19'75’ 20-35

Counters th3 hypothesis that women's sex-role destiny is determined by their
anatomy. Proposes a new hypothesis accounting for the evolution of physical
differences.
8. Messing, Karen. Dor.jmen ani women have different jobs because of their biolo
gic 1 differences ? International Tournal of Health _ServiceSj_ 12(1^ 43-5 2,1982
-fell-researched facts and convincing arguments demolish myths — weaker sex’
myth, 'fairy fingers' myth, 'raging hormones' myth and the myth of orotecting

- 2 -

pregnant workers —;iiich are used to keep women in specific jobs.
LI
Barbara Katz. Women, Health and Medicine. In 2famp.n_:—A feminist, pprs9* 21
Rothman,

pective. edited by Jo Freeman. May Led Publishing Ce.y 2nd. edition. 1979
27-40.

An excellent analysis showing hew the individualist and mechanist ’world view
of medicine directly results in medical procedures and treatment which contri
bute to the oppression of women.

Wornen’ s he alth status
It. Gupta, J.L. The problem of Burns in Women. Annals of Indian Academy of Medi
cal Sciences, 12(4)5 260- 1976
Jn a.span of ten years more than 31 per cent of the burn victims in a D^lhi •
hospital were women and 45 Par cent children. Causes include badly designed
kitchens and equipment, lack of safety devices on household gadgets

11. Jussawalla, D.J and JainjB-K. The problem of Cervical and mammary cancer in
India. Annals of Indian Academy of Medical Sciences, 12(4); 239-50, 1976

Reviews statistics from 4'2 hospitals in I5 states- Cancer, is the ninth cause
of mortality among women in Bombay in 1971* Records the predominance of cervi
cal and breast cancer.
12. Kulkarni, Suresh,N. Demographic and Nutritional Background of the Health
status of women in India. Mimeo. Institute of Economic Growth. New Delhi

Some analysis of statistical data from 1J21 on health indices with reference
to w#men. Demonstrates that declining sex ratio is a function of health
status. Sex-wise health care of peculation of age group 9^24 ’' has received

little attention as compared to that given to age group I5-44. Lack of appro
priate data ensures that female mo-.-tility
mortality is examined only in terms of pregpreg
nancy management.
13. Mohanty, Bidyut. tf*men, Disease and Beith in Historical Perspective a case
-.Q.1 Orissa (1881—1921) . Paper presented at the Conference on Women1 s

Studies, I98I
A very
brief
whattheappears
to be an04d
exhaustive
showing Sd
that
mor,,
men
than paper
women about
dial in
l9th century.
diseases study
have Ihangef
several social xactors have resulted in their intensification killing m.r”
more women
.
ujwr^
14. Nathanson, Constance. Sex, Illness and Medical Care.: A review of data, theory
and method. In Health, Illness and Medicine edited by Gary Albrecht and
Paul.c. Higgind. 16-40
Examining data f mcstly from developed countries, presents a picture of sex
differences in health indices- Method *f treatment of data could be a model

15. Shatrugna, Veena. He.alth status of women and children and the
ths role of communj
communi
ty health volunteers scheme. Paper presented at the Workshop on Somen and
Health , Bombay 1981

Briefly describes the major health problems of women and expresses a reserved
approval of the community health programmes.

you don’ t eat ....’’
L6. Batliwala, Srilatha. rRural Snergy Scarcity and Undernutrition: A new perspective. Economic and Political Weekly, 17(Feb-7,1982)5

Relates women’s undernutrition to wtheir actual'energy expenditure ob+ained
from a field study. Suggests that nutritional intake insufficient to make
up for energy output may have long term effects such as higher morbidity,
shorter life span etc.

17. Eide, Wenche B et al. Women in Food Production, Food Handling and Nutritiofl
(with spr ref. to AfricaJ Food and Agricultural Organisation. Rome .1979

Critically analyses the problem of women’s nutrition in the context of the
history of colonialism in Africa and the political, economic and social
changes and how they affected women’s role in production.

4

- 3 18. ICMR. Anaemia in Pregnancy.
5 (11): 1-4, 1975

Indian Council of Meiioxl Research Bulletin.

Comprehensive review article on a health problem which accounts for 20 per

cent maternal deaths.

19. Jayarao, Kamala. Nho is Malnourished: Mother or the Noman ? In Health Care
care :Jhich way to Ge. Medico Friends Circle. 1982. 55-74
Nelfare activities concerning women never attempt to bring them into the main
stream of developmental activity. Their nutritional status is roofed in their
their inferior status in society, although nutritional programmes treat them
only as mothers on. potential-mothers. Examines effect of new technologies on
women’s nutritional? status through changes in their employment.
n Nork(outside the home) causes ill health" •
I.
?0‘. Ansley
Fred an! Bell, ’BronlaDiagnosis; rfork related diseases. In Science
for the People. 7(5 )’ 19-21,34-5•
Examines workihg conditions of women in cotton mills in the U.S and demonstra
tes that ’woman's illnesses’ are in fact, rooted in their social location,work

21. Feminist Network-Newsletter. The Sandoz Strike. In Feminist Network Newsletter
1979-1

Describes health damaging conditions

work of women in Sandoz plant.

22. SftP East Bay. Danger: Nomen’S Nork. In Science for the People.12(2) I98O

Anlysis of workpk.alce hazards in new .and traditional industries in the U.S
where women work in large numbers.
CALL. Nomen and Labour Law . Comnitt.ee for the Advancement of Legal Literacy
Brief introduction to welfare neasures and protection afforded to working
women under the Factory Act, Maternity Benefits Act end 3SIS ACT/
-r

23-

"It’s all in the mind u
24. Chesler, Phyllis. Marriage and Psychotherapy. In International Socialist
Review. November 1980. 32-34

Traditional psychoanalytical theories about women are at beet—confused and
at worst, false. The ethic of mental health is masculine. We need to seek
a new, a first
osychology of women.
r

25

Fee, Elizabeths
llizabeth.. 3sychology, Sexuality and Social Controlin V’icto’rian England
In Social S:ienc^ Quarterly, 58(4); 632-46.

A zell-document cd article wi th extensive reference showing how psychology
was-used to impose social control as well as male bourgeois norms of sexuality
26. Mackay, Judith Longstaff.

iomen and Madness

.

Hong Kong 1979* Mimeo

A goed overview of how social and cultural norms influence psychiatric diag
noses ani the solution of psychiatric problems of women. The normal woman of
psychiatry is an emotional, weak, passive, non-aggressive wife or mother.
•Jpmen as Healers
27. Bang, Rani. NursesL The cursed women in Medical System. In Health Care
way to Go. Medico Friends Circle. 1982. 75-90

Discusses the current distressing status of nurses in India and suggests that
their low status within health care may be because of the nature of their
job. Nurses have a key role to play in women’s struggle.
” , Sexual Divsion of Labour: the case of nursing. In Feminism
28. Gamarnikov, Eva.
and Materialism. 3d by Annette Kuhn and AnnMarie Nolpe. Routledge, Kegan and
Paul,’London. 1978. 96-123

Under capit lism patriarchal relations are reproduced in the sexual division
of habour in the health care system. The occupational ideology of nursing
necessarily genisrises the division of labour T-assooiating men- with science
and authority and women with oaring and maintenance Contributes towards, a
theoretical understanding of nursing and nurses/
29; Shrenreich, Barbara and 3nglish, Dieire. Nithhes, Midwives and Nurses.'
Glass Mountain Pamphlet no.l. The feminist Press. New 7bfkT~197J

A short feminist history of women healers from witchcraft to the rise of
s

- 4 scientific medicine, dominated by mon.
30. Leeson, J an d Gray.Judith.

Nomen in Modicine . Tavistock Publications.1978

■k

Reviews historical role of women in health care and an analysis of the begin
ning of unionisation among curses. Also deals with nurs^-women doctor, nurse
women patient, women doctor-women patients relationships

31. Navarro, Vicente. Women in Health Gare. In Health, Illness and Medicine Ed. by
Albrecht and Higgins. Rand McNally, Chicago. 1979* 327-37
Describes the situation of the women in the U.S.health labour force. This can
be understood in the context of an analysis of the socie-e'conomic and politi
c al s t rue tur e s.

32. Sadgopal, Mira. Training of Dais. In Health Car3: Which way to go .• MedicoFriends Circle. 1982 197-206

A critical comaent on the dai training programme.

Nomen’s Biology .ani its Consequences
Menstruation
33. Redgrove, June. Menstrual Cycle. In Biological Rhythns and Human Performance
edited by N.P.Colquhoun. Academic Press.Londen. 1971. 211-40

A well-referenced ‘’study asserting that menstruation does effect performance
but its extents depends on other sociological ani psychological factors as
shown in experimental studies and experiments on women athletes.and sports
34. Shuttle, Renelope ani Redgrove, Peter.
Everywoman. Victor Gollancz Ltd. 1978*

The -Vise -founds Menstruation ani

A complete book on a phenomena which effects half the human population and has
only recently been subjected to comprehensive research. Draws from scientific
psychological, mythological and anthropological, historical sources. A nwer
before analysis.

I Reproduction
35. Gordon, Linda. Woman’s Body, Woman's Rights Penguin Boo^s. 1977*

A socio-political . • history of the birth control movement in America. Sees
three distinct periods in the last 100 years— 'voluntary motherhood’, legali
sed abortion and the period of commoditization of birth control.

36. Lahiri,DLand Konar,M. Abortion Hazards. In Journal of Medical As ociation of
India. 66(11): 288-294- 1976
1
Sepsis accounts • for 20% of all abortion hazards. 50 per cent of random
abortions admitted were ilagally induced. Data from one hospi+al, many years.

37. Lawrence, Virginia. Contraception. In Nomen * s Undercurrents, U.K, 29, 26,1978
Short but significant. Offers that the tchnology which provided contracepti
ves is a male technology . Nomen must infiltirate the scientific network
ani influence priorities and methods.

38. Newland, Kathleen. Nomen' and Population Growth: Choice beyond childbearing
World Nat uh Paper 16, December 1977
A critical review reassessing existing information. FP programmes do not
recognise women as individuals but as mothers and yet they seek to diminish
the only role that they explicitly recognise for women.

39. Rao, Kamala Go pal. Status of women in In di a related to the study of FP*
I6SSR Mimeo. Undated.
There exists a two-way relationship, between FP programmes and women’s status
Nhic is explored here. Considers such questions as: does co traception rede-,
fine the female role in society and alters the meaning of marital relationship
40. Rose, Hilary and Hanmer.,Jalna. Women
Nomen’s Liberation
Liberation, Reproduction and the
* ifcahii''lo£ical
Hohaclogical Fix. In ^‘he Political Sconomy of Science. The Macmillan Press
London. 1976

Exposes the inherent sexism of new developments in reproduction technology
f

- 5 ant challenges the viewpoint hell by some radical feminists that technologv
is neutral and sr can be male use of as such.
41. Savage, Jeniy. Taking Liberties Lth iomen: Abortion, Sterilization ani
Contraception. International Journal of Health Services. 12(2); 293-308,1982

Analyses four area of cone jrning reproluctive freedom , basod on U,K data.
42. Savara, Mira. Jomen, Health ani Reprolu?tion: Some issues. Paoer cresented
at the fomen an 1 Health workshop in 1981.
•Discussion paper with a feminis perspectiveSuggest action programmes.
43. Schiff, Jill.

Vasectomy. Newsletter Cultural Survival. 5(4)’ 19-81 . op8

'here appears to be a Link between atherosclerosis ani vasectomy. Could there
be acardiovas?ular disease epidemic on the horizon ?

44. Serlin, Renee.
281-84> 1981

Contraceptives: Back to the barriers. New Scientist, July30

An anniversary article on Marie Stopes wh» ftught for birth control in the '*30
!30s. Notes Ijow fertility control todyy is surrounded by a ’morass of prejudice.’

45- Vandenbroucke, J.P et al . Oral contraceptives and rheumatoid arthritis: further
furtherevidence for a preventive effects Lancet. 1982 ii 839-42'
b
Report of a case control study of women with a history of oral contraceptive
use and diagnosis of probable rheumatoid arthritis or soft tissue rheumatism
Confirms earlier findings of that )C use halved rates of rheumatoid arthritis
ABstetrics and child care
46. Cohen, Marige. *"ook Review of Men Jho control womeb’s ehalth by-Diana Scully
Reproductive Rights Newsletter , Fill 1980 20-21

Analyses the prictice and tr-lining of in Ob and Gyn at two major urban hospi
tals
47. Comer, Lee. The Myth of Motherhood. Spokesman Pamphlet. Undated.

A feminist critique of society’s definition of motherhood*
48. Frankforr, Ellen. Vaginal Poli tips. Quadrangle Bros. New York. 1972

An early book on how women are breaking the medicine’s grip on their bodies.
Haire, Doris. The culturalr’warping of childbirth. In The cultural Crisis of
mod3rn medicine Si by John Ehrenreich. Monthly Review Press. 1978- 185-200

Excellent article - examines current Ob practices such as use of anaesthesia,
insistence on the-^Sodomy?0s^^^-on during childbirth, use of forcedps etc.

51. Hewell, Mary C. Paediatrician and Mothers. In /he cultural Crisis of Modarn
Medicine. Elite! by J.Ehrenreich. Monthly Review Press. 1978 201- 222

Informal content analysis =?xp of teaching material in paediatrics.

5;1. Miller, Barbara. Jhat hospital admission s tell us about childcare in India
Syracuse University.Mimeo.
Higlights the difference in male-female care from the analysis of secondary
data on hospital admission from regional and area studies.
52>. Scully, Diana and Bart, Pauline. A Funny thing Happened on the Jay to the
•rifioe: Jomen in Gynaecolqgy Textbooks. In The Cultural Crisis of Modern
Medicine. Ed. By John Ehrenreich. Monthly Review Press. 1978. 212-28

A report on the content analysis of 28 gynaecological textbooks for sexist
bias. T&e emphasis is on how female sexuality has been dealt with
53. Sebastian, S.V. Health Services for Jomen. Annals of Indian Academy of MediUal Sciences, 12(4)5 222-34? 1978

Begins with a historical review of health services for women but the focus
shifts to a discussion of health services for children and t.heir mothers.

-6 -

5^. Sethna, N.J. Maternal and Chill Health Services in India. All India Institute
of Hygiene and Public Health. Background paper for the ICSSR-1CMR Committee"
on Health and Medical Services. 1978.

Describes le development of MCH ervices in Iniia, reviews the reports of
, committees on health and the ir re?onmendations for MCH betweenl947-1968
55* Singh, Gayatri -and Savara,Mira. A case study on Child. Care Facilities in
Metropolitan Bombay. Asian and Pacific Centre for Women and Development, i960
Studies tha functioning of a creche runa by a textile mill, a balwali program
me, a mobile creche run for construction workers. Highlights drawbacks for
instance, women workers given only half-an-hour to feed babies, when It takea
ten ninutes to get to the ?reche alone.

56 . Singh, Shamer.
Environmental hazards during pregnancy and birth defects.
Annals of National Academy of Medical Sciences , 14(2): 53-65. 1978

Environmental hazards are a major or contributing factor in 65-70 per cent
of birth defects. Also discusses the effects of drugs and chemicals.
decent Issues concerning Women’s health and Biology

57. Chhachi, Amrita and Sathyamala,C. A World without Women? Sex determination
tests - a technology which will eliminate women. Hindustan Times,. Aug.8,1962

Explains amniocentesis in non-medical language and offers asooi<>--poJ.itlo-d
background to the issue.
5q. noskaii,
Hosken Fran P. Female Genital Mutilation in the World Today; A global review
International Journal of Health Services, 11(3); 415 “3 0, 1981.
A well-documented review of the ethical and health issues posed by female
genital mutilation which affects at least 74 million women and female children

Minkin, St phen. Depo-Provera: A .-pi tic al analysis. Institute of Food and
Development Policy. U.S.A. 1980
A comprehensive review on Depo-Provera, an injectable contraceptive, which
many studies show lowers resistance to viral infection and worse, causes
cancer. Attempts to clarify some of the political and economic issues invol
ved in the ongoing controversy.
Sathyamala,C and Shiva, Mira. Are Hormonal Pregnancy Tests safe ?
Health Association of India. New Delhi. 1982

Volunteer

This was a background for many other articles on the same subject appearing
in newspapers and journals on ar around March 8,1982, launching the succes^jwi.1
campaign focussing on the dangerous side effects and relative irrelevance W

71 Sipe,
6L.
Sipe Patricia. The wonder Drug we should know about. Science for the People
14(6 ):9-16,30-32. 1982
DES or stilbestrol, prescribed to millions of women to prevent miscarriage
was,in the late ’60s, suspected of having caused cancer in the daughters of
women who used them. Written by a DES daughter, this article discusses the
history of DES but also the health issues affecting DES daughters.
62. Wilson, Mark. Bottle Babies and Managed Mothers. Science fdr the People ,
’ 13(1): 17-24.1981
.
$

An analysis of the structural elements in capitalism and patriarchy which
give rise to the problem of babyfood/infant formula. This is one feature of
the larger problem of malnutrition, disease, oppression of ^omen and the
exploitation of the Third World. More proof that technological develooments
are not necessarily liberating.

,- Britain: Foreign Husbands and Virginity Tests. ISIS International
63.- BuiIstin, 14’ 23-24, I98O
A short report on ’virginity tests’ which were introduced for Asian women
immigrants to Britain, and the protest actions that have taken place in
Britain and in India.
4-

- 7 Regaining Control of Health Care': Some Alternatives
64. Borton Roman’s Health Book C9IIoctive-. Our-Boodiojg, Ourselves. Simon and
Schuster, New York, 1979» (available from Manushi, New Delhi

A pioneering book on women's biology, and their health written by a group of
non-medical women who clarify misconceptions perpetuated by the medical sys
tem. Its an all-you-ever-wanted-to-know book which has .already made history.

6k. Eve’s Weekly.
' 13-19, 1982.

Special issue on Health ar.d Fitness . Eve’s Weekly Ltd. March

Meinly a ’how-to’ issue with a out-and-keep section on com non ailments and
emergencies, but includes a discussion of ’sensitive’ topics such as psychia
tric care of women and sexuality.
6'6. Fee, Elizabeth, Nomen and Health Care: A comparison of theories. International
Journal of Health Services, 5(3): 397-415, 1975
Discusses three distinct approaches to women’s health in the U.S — liberal
feminist, radical feminist and Marxist-feminist. May not be mutually oxdiwhn,

67Health for the Million. Special issue on Nomen and Health. Voluntary Health
Association of India, New Delhi, 8(4); 1982
A representative collection of articles covering the entire range of health
issues concerning women. /fell researched and collated issue, Includes renortd
of efforts at organising women on the health front

6g. ICSSRXECMR Study Group. Health for All: An Alternative Strategy Indian Insti
tute of Education, Pune. 1981
Incorporates a more comprehensive understanding of women’s role than, other
similar health plan documents in the past. Attempts to view women1as indivi
duals rather than only as mothers. Does not wholly succedd.

gj. Jha, Saroj.S. The development of ealth Education programmes for women in a
^omoay Slum. paper presented at the National Conference on Nomen’s Studies
, S.N.D.T University, 1981.
Brief description of health education programmes directed at women

7q. Kay, Bonnie and Regan, Carol. Steering Clear of the Medical Mainstream.
Silence for the People, 14(6): 28-9, 1982
How an experiment at proviiing abortion servies grew into an alternative
health service for women in a city in the U.S.
71. Lok Vidnyan Prakashan. Stree-Aarogy (in Marathi) Lok Vidnyan Sanghatana, Pune
Pune branch, 1981
Deals with women’s health problems — including infertility, VD, cancer----in non-meiical terms. An easy-to-understand booklet.
72. Parsons, Patricia and Hodne, Carole. A collective Experiment in Nomen’s
Health. Science for the People, 14(4)- 9-13, 1982

Describes .end successass of establishing an ‘alternative health service for
women in a town in the U.S. Offers some guidelines which may be of use
7^. Prakash, Padma. Nomen and Health0
. Some issues . Paper presented at the
Conference on a Perspective for a women’s movement in India, Bombay.1980
A discussion paper attempting to show that health issues for women’s movement
in India are different from those in the West and highlighting t ie need for
a feminist critique of 'alternative developments in health care e.gCH,etc.

74

Sen, Ilina and Sen, ^inayak. An Experimental Health course for Kural Nomen
Paper presented at the Nomen and Health Workshop, Bombay 19^1.

A note on theexperiences of organising an experimental health course for
wom^n. ©pen to all women with r selection of candidates with the intention
of avoiding the creation of a new .
. hierarchical level in health care
AND MANY MORE
If there exists a comprehensive bibliography on women and health, please make
it more accessible!

Axiand, MFC EX Annual Meeting, 1983

Padma Prakash

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