Be the fairest of them all: challenges and recommendations for the treatment of gender in occupational health research.
BACKGROUND
Both women's and men's occupational health problems merit scientific attention. Researchers need to consider the effect of gender on how occupational health issues are experienced, expressed, defined, and addressed. More serious consideration of gender-related factors will help identify risk factors for both women and men.


METHODS
The authors, who come from a number of disciplines (ergonomics, epidemiology, public health, social medicine, community psychology, economics, sociology) pooled their critiques in order to arrive at the most common and significant problems faced by occupational health researchers who wish to consider gender appropriately.


RESULTS
This paper describes some ways that gender can be and has been handled in studies of occupational health, as well as some of the consequences. The paper also suggests specific research practices that avoid errors. Obstacles to gender-sensitive practices are considered.


CONCLUSIONS
Although gender-sensitive practices may be difficult to operationalize in some cases, they enrich the scientific quality of research and should lead to better data and ultimately to well-targeted prevention programs.
Messing
Karen
K
Department of Biological Sciences, CINBIOSE, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada. messing.karen@uqam.cam
Punnett
Laura
L
Bond
Meg
M
Alexanderson
Kristina
K
Pyle
Jean
J
Zahm
Shelia
S
Wegman
David
D
Stock
Susan R
SR
de Grosbois
Sylvie
S
D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D016272:Occupational Health; D012107:Research Design; D012737:Sex Factors