Men Who Control Women's Health

First published in 1980, and seriously questioning how and why male obstetrician-gynecologists control women's health, this reissued edition examines the current situation, concluding that abusive practices remain, and highlighting the dangers to women of advances in reproductive technology.

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When "Men Who Control Women's Health" was first published in 1980, it was a noted examination of the training of obstetrician-gynecologists in care for women. What, if anything, has changed since the publication of this book? Although much attention has been focused on unnecessary obstetric and surgical practices, little has actually occurred to change these procedures, and they continue to be controversial issues. White men still dominate all major institutions. If anything, the book argues, women have even more to be alarmed about, with the advancement of reproductive technologies that make it possible to control conception. Poverty continues to rise among women and their children and limited resources force many women to accept the substandard quality of health care described in this work on women's health. This book includes a history of the development of obstetric and gynecological practices, and how the training of these mostly male doctors affects the lives of their patients.
Scully spent two years doing field research at two large urban hospitals, following residents as they acquired the skills to become practising obstetrican-gynecologists, and exploring the surgical practices and paternalistic attitudes of these specialists. The result is an interesting examination of the ways in which professional goals influence the development of attitudes, perspectives and skills that often conflict with the needs of patients, backed by sound documentation of abusive therapies and surgical interventions. The book claims that major changes are needed in the attitudes and structure of the medical profession. "Men Who Control Women's Health" remains a source for determining what changes need to be made and how they can be implemented.