An international imperative for gender-sensitive theories in women's health.
OBJECTIVE
To propose gender-sensitive theories as a future direction for theoretical development of women's health. Few theories pertain to women's health and illness experiences, with gender issues embedded in social, cultural, and historical contexts.


METHODS
Significance, definition, and philosophical bases of gender-sensitive theories.


RESULTS
Six major components should be incorporated in the development of gender-sensitive theories: (a) gender as a major feature, (b) women's own words and experiences, (c) nature of women's experiences, (d) theorists' perspectives, (e) contexts, and (f) guidelines for actions.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that the development of gender-sensitive theories in nursing could enable researchers to transcend androcentric and ethnocentric views on women's health, decrease gender inequity in health care, enhance women's well being, and ultimately contribute to knowledge development in nursing.
Im
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EO
Department of Health Maintenance, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Cunningham Hall, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. eoim@uwm.edu
Meleis
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D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009742:Nursing Theory; D010684:Philosophy; D016387:Women's Health