Medicalization

This article explores the history of choices in childbirth. Shares one woman's home birth experience. 

This article discusses the culture of childbearing. Explores how medicalization has becomes the ritual of birth in North America. Explores how women are reclaiming their bodies in birth. 

This article explores the different experiences and understandings of menopause for women in Japan as compared to women in North America. Acknowledges the power of language in shaping our experiences. 

This article introduces the community theatre production of Side Effects, seen by nearly 10,000 women across Canada, a play about women’s experiences in the health care system.  Illustrates the valuable role this production played.  Major portions of this article are based on the Side Effects Final Report, written and compiled by Barbara Lysnes of The Great Canadian Theatre Company, and on quotes from personal feedback from audience and direct quotes from the Side Effects script.  

This article illustrates, through a historical overview, how our concerns as patients are inseparably linked with the structure of hospital work and the well being of workers. Proposes a united and creative front in the battle to end the dehumanization of patients and workers. 

This article discusses the continued struggle of the medicalization of birth for families, questions promising alternative birthing options and whether they have the capacity to bring about concrete change and questions the accessibility of these new birthing options; suggests systemic shifts are still needed.

Drug assessment specialist Dr. Barbara Mintzes looks at the ways women’s sexual difficulties are being repackaged as symptoms of a disorder called “female sexual dysfunction” in order to feed a marketing machine that promises to “cure” it. Dr. Mintzes and Ray Moynihan co-authored the book, Sex, Lies, and Pharmaceuticals.

Argues that pharmaceutical companies increase consumer demand for more screening and medications by manipulating our fear of suffering and death. 

A factsheet about when it is useful to have a bone density test and when it is not appropriate – and possibly harmful – to have these tests done.