Rethinking difference: a feminist reframing of gender/race/class for the improvement of women's health research.
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.
Whittle
K L
KL
Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1420 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA.
Inhorn
M C
MC
D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism / Q000266:history; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D011822:Race Relations / Q000266:history; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000266:history*; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012962:Sociology, Medical / Q000266:history*; D019366:Western World / Q000266:history; D016387:Women's Health