Health care is a women's issue

When I started this course, I wasn't sure I could connect my passion for women's health with a feminist objective through my service-learning. I know that there is very limited federal funding for family planning (the Bush administration cut funding 30% in the 2009 budget plan) which is a problem in and of itself- but past that, I hadn't really considered how sexism, which has already permeated our society, also affects women's health care negatively.

Some interesting links:

Provider Ignorance, Bias Turn Lesbian Patients Off Healthcare (@ RH Reality Check)

Go Ask Alice: Should I tell my gyn I'm having lesbian sex? (Short answer: "YES!")

Transgender Health: Overview, Guidelines, Gender Identity Disorder (LGBT HealthChannel)

Gender Inequalities and HIV (World Health Organization)

After Caesareans, Some See Higher Insurance Cost (NY Times)

Insurance May Not Cover Preventive Surgery for High-Risk Women (American Cancer Society)

I'll add more later... but you get the picture. If you're a woman (even worse, a lesbian, transgender, or of color) you're probably receiving less-than-perfect care. Ain't that a bitch?