As a medical anthropologist with expertise in how people interpret health policies, I am worried about the broader social implications of normalizing the expressions “stay home” and “stay healthy.” They reinforce misconceptions about how many people live, with the risk of doing more harm than good.
Category: Health
Texas Lawmakers Deem Abortion ‘Non-Essential,’ But Church ‘Essential’
On Tuesday, March 31, an appeals court allowed the Texasabortion ban to remain in place until the case made its way through the courts. Similar lawsuits are pending in other states as Alabama, Iowa, Ohio and Oklahoma attempt to ban abortions as well.
GLAAD and Senators Call to End Ban on Blood Donations from Gay and Bi Men
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, blood donations have become increasingly necessary to help those diagnosed with the disease. However, not all healthy people can donate: The FDA has stated that—despite the need—gay and bisexual men are still banned from donating blood.
Trump Wages War on the Affordable Care Act in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The president is urging the federal judiciary to invalidate the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA).
If successful, 20 million people could lose health insurance; 135 million people with preexisting conditions—including cancer, pregnancy and diabetes—will lose desperately needed protections; and 12 million seniors will pay more for prescription drugs.
The last thing we should do is make it harder for these groups to access the care they need.
“Wear Makeup and Office Clothes,” “Don’t Nag Husband,” Malaysia Advises Women Sheltering-in-Place
On March 18, the Malaysian Ministry of Women and Family Development issued a series of infographics with advice like: Don’t nag your husband. Refrain from being “sarcastic” if asked for help with household chores. Dress up and wear makeup in the home.
The Mother of All Burdens: COVID-19 and Physician Parents
“As practicing physicians with small children at home, we both understand all parents are scrambling to find childcare and set up home schooling to continue their children’s education during the shutdown—while trying to work from home. This disproportionately affects female physicians, as they spend 8.5 more hours per week on domestic activities than male counterparts.
Self-Managed Abortion Is Medically Very Safe. But Is It Legally Safe?
Self-managed abortion—on the rise in the U.S.—means doing an abortion yourself by obtaining abortion pills, and taking them without going to a doctor.
Sexual Harassment Led to My Eating Disorder
While there are a number of risk factors for eating disorders, including our culture’s obsession with thinness, one factor is talked about less often and that is sexual violence.
Can You Deny My Lived Experience of FGM?
A new global report looks at 60 countries where FGM is practiced and may be widespread. But it happens in secret. It is not against the law, and governments do not even collect official data about it. Instead they pretend it does not exist.
Op-ed: The “All-Consuming” Emotional Labor Caused by Coronavirus—and Shouldered by Women
Three weeks ago, most of us—proud feminists and progressives—would have said we shared the burden of parenting relatively evenly. Why then, at times of crisis, do these imbalances emerge?