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Women’s earnings drop after childbirth

A recent study by Cornell University researchers found that women's earnings drop substantially after childbirth, with the gap widening across all education levels. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue, making it more challenging for mothers to restart their careers and leading to worse hiring prospects and wage penalties.

SourceCornell University·JournalPopulation and Development Review·DateApr 20, 2022

Faces of dominance: why the faces of women and men are perceived differently by liberals and conservatives

A study found that liberals and conservatives read dominance signals differently in the faces of men and women, with conservative biases against women's faces. The researchers suggest that this perception may be rooted in evolutionary psychology and traditional social hierarchies.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalJournal of the Association for Consumer Research·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2022

Child abuse investigations may not prevent poor sexual health outcomes in girls

A recent study found that child abuse investigations by Child Protective Services (CPS) do not necessarily prevent poor sexual health outcomes in adolescent girls. In fact, the researchers discovered that girls who underwent investigation were more likely to experience adverse sexual health outcomes, including STIs and pregnancy, befor...

SourcePenn State·JournalJAMA Pediatrics·TypeObservational study·DateMar 29, 2022

Time to shift research focus from ‘bikini medicine’ to what is really ailing women

A new study found that women's health research is disproportionately focused on reproductive years, particularly pregnancy, leaving few articles on major causes of illness and death. Non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, are poorly covered in women's health publications.

SourceGeorge Institute for Global Health·JournalJournal of Women s Health·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 29, 2022

Menstrual equity and the pandemic: Study shows it’s time to take the gendered experience into account

A study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health reveals that income loss during COVID-19 significantly increases menstrual product insecurity, with lower-income and less educated individuals most vulnerable. The pandemic's impact on menstruation management challenges underscores the need for health and social policy legi...

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateMar 23, 2022

Medical equality undermined by mistaken male doctors

A UK-based study surveyed 425 doctors, finding that both male and female overestimated the proportion of women in various roles. However, men who made this mistake showed significantly lower support for gender-equality initiatives. The research highlights the need to address these misconceptions to achieve progress toward gender equali...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBMJ Open·TypeSurvey·DateMar 21, 2022

Higher risk of psychotropic medication after sexual harassment in the workplace

A Swedish study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that victims of sexual and gender-based harassment in the workplace are at a higher risk of prescribed psychotropic medication. The study analyzed over 23,000 participants and found a 20% increase in medication use among those who experienced harassment.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalOccupational and Environmental Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 10, 2022

Women want to work, despite workforce precarity

A new study by Cornell University's Landon Schnabel found that women are now as likely as men to report working because they want to, not just out of necessity. The gender gap in preferring to work is closing, except for pockets of the most religiously active Americans.

SourceCornell University·JournalSociological Science·DateMar 9, 2022

In one cleft surgery NGO mission trip in Morocco, an all-female healthcare team empowered volunteers to seek further mentorship as well as to mentor others

In a cleft surgery NGO mission trip in Morocco, an all-female healthcare team empowered volunteers to seek further mentorship and to mentor others. The team's influence on female healthcare professionals was found to be significant, promoting a supportive environment for growth and development.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Global Public Health·DateMar 2, 2022

Patient experience ratings valuable for all physicians — Especially radiologists

A retrospective study found that online patient experience ratings improved radiologists' performance, with scores increasing over time. The results showed that radiologists' performance was comparable to that of non-radiologist physicians, suggesting the value of implementing patient experience surveys in radiology.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 24, 2022

Female primary care physicians face a higher electronic health record workload than male counterparts

A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that female primary care physicians spend 20% more time working in the electronic health record than their male counterparts. The increased workload was attributed to a higher volume of messages received from staff and patients, which may contribute to burnout rates among female PCPs.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 1, 2022

Female family medicine researchers submitted fewer manuscripts compared to their male counterparts in 2020, which may reflect larger disparity

A bibliometric analysis of Annals of Family Medicine submissions from 2015 to 2020 found that women represented 46.33% of all manuscript submissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Women submitted fewer original research articles and briefs than men, potentially impacting future promotions.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateJan 26, 2022

Years lived alone and/or serial break-ups strongly linked to inflammation in men

A large population study found that living alone for several years and/or experiencing serial relationship break-ups are strongly linked to raised levels of inflammatory markers in the blood of middle-aged men. The researchers suggest that this combination may indicate a heightened risk of age-related ill health and death.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·TypeObservational study·DateJan 10, 2022

Racialized women frequently excluded from developing medical guidance: Study

A study of 237 clinical practice guidelines found that only 7% of panel members were racialized women, while white men made up 46%. This lack of diversity may lead to biased recommendations and exacerbate existing health inequities. The authors call for greater transparency in panel recruitment processes and fair representation.

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalThe Lancet·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 6, 2022

Welsh kids' self-reported wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic differed by gender, ethnicity and deprivation, with younger children reporting the need for playing with friends and older students wanting support with anxiety and educational pressures

Younger children report need for social interaction, while older students seek support for anxiety and educational pressures. The study surveyed 6291 young people in Wales to understand factors influencing their wellbeing during the pandemic.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 15, 2021

A gender dimension of energy: Modern cooking fuels connected to quicker demographic transition

Access to modern cooking fuels like gas and electricity improves health and frees up time for women to seek information and education, ultimately leading to reproductive rights. The study found a significant connection between modern energy access and lower fertility rates in countries with high initial fertility rates.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Sustainability·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 13, 2021

Women, older adults with college degrees more likely to feel socially isolated during COVID-19

A new study suggests that women and older adults with college degrees are more likely to report feeling socially isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research highlights the need for culturally sensitive initiatives to mitigate social isolation in vulnerable populations, including Hispanic and African American communities.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·TypeSurvey·DateDec 10, 2021

Study finds parental stress as a contributing factor linking maternal depression to child anxiety and depressive symptoms

A secondary analysis found a bi-directional relationship between mother's mental health symptoms and child's mental health symptoms, with parental stress as the mediating factor. The study suggests that lowering parental stress is vital for families where mothers and children exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalJournal of Affective Disorders·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 1, 2021

The success of the Life-Saving Lullabies project

The Life-Saving Lullabies project, funded by UK Arts and Humanities Research Council, investigated the potential of song as a novel public health education intervention to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. The project's successes demonstrate a model of best practice in community-led maternal and infant health interventions.

SourceUniversity of Huddersfield·TypeNews article·DateNov 25, 2021

Kids, teens believe girls aren’t interested in computer science, study shows

A recent study from the University of Washington and the University of Houston found that children as young as age 6 develop ideas that girls are less interested than boys in computer science and engineering. The study suggests that these gender-based beliefs can contribute to a gender gap in STEM college courses and related careers.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 22, 2021

Most PPE not designed for ethnic minority health workers and women, study finds

A new study found that most personal protective equipment (PPE) masks are not designed for Black And Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and women, leading to inadequate protection. The research highlights the need for further studies on PPE development to account for differences in facial dimensions across gender and ethnicity.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalBMJ Global Health·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 12, 2021