RETHINKING DIFFERENCE: A FEMINIST REFRAMING OF GENDER/RACE/CLASS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

• Published in: International journal of health services 2001-01, Vol.31 (1), p.147-165
• Main Authors: Whittle, K. Lisa, Inhorn, Marcia C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Black women; Class; Developing Countries; Female; Feminism; Feminism - history; Feminist perspectives; Feminist Theory; Gender; Health; Health Behavior; Health Research; Health services; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Male; Medical research; Prejudice; Public health; Race; Race Relations - history; Racism; Research Support as Topic - history; Sex; Sexism; Social Class; Social research; Socioeconomic Factors; Sociology, Medical - history; The Social Construction of Health and Disease; Western World - history; Women; Women's Health; Womens Health Care
• ISSN: 0020-7314; 1541-4469
• DOI: 10.2190/FKJA-CXD7-V4G6-U4W9

In exploring the history of the social construction of gender/race/class in Western scientific discourse and examining the legacy of these persisting constructions in modern research on women's health, the authors join in a growing debate about sexism/racism/classism in women's health research—a debate being forwarded most forcefully by feminist epidemiologists. A major purpose of this article is to aid in the development of a new research paradigm for examining the relationship between gender, race, and class, one that considers the interdisciplinary theorizing of Third World feminists and European/American feminists of color. Following the examination of both historical and epistemological issues surrounding interlocking forms of oppression based on gender/race/class, the authors propose a feminist research agenda that not only is responsive to different women's health needs, but can potentially contribute to a process for understanding and answering the health needs of all persons.