REMARKS
Council Member Farah Louis on Addressing Disparities in Women's Health
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3 min
Council Member Farah Louis opens the joint oversight hearing on Women And Gender Equity and Health, focusing on disparities in women's health care. She highlights the prevalence of gender biases and their impact, especially on women of color, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues during Black History Month. Louis acknowledges the need for aggressive action to combat health inequities and looks forward to exploring the leading health issues facing women in NYC.
Speaker 1
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Good morning, and happy Valentine's Day.
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I am council member Farrah Lewis chair on the committee on Women And Gender Equity, and I like to welcome everyone to our joint oversight hearing with the committee on health, addressing disparities in women's health.
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I'd like to thank my phenomenal colleague and chair on the committee on health Council member Lynn Schulman for her partnership to hold this important hearing today.
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Gender biases in health care is a prevalent and extensively reported problem that often results in unfavorable experiences and adverse outcomes for women in our city, particularly women of color.
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The International Journal for Equity And Health Reports on the underlying myth that bodies assigned male at birth are somehow superior to those assigned female at birth.
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In addition, such myths are biological about biological sex are also those around race which inaccurately ascribe physical, mental, and emotional qualities to individuals based on race.
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This misconception has substantial effects, consequences, and ramifications for girls and women of all ages, including significant gaps in medical and clinical research, insufficient testing, misguided diagnosis, and even inaccurate treatment plans.
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In addition, misconceptions around women's sensitivity to pain, and exacerbating pain persist, even among non male physicians.
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And as we observe black history month, I would be remiss if I did not highlight that studies show that black women have reportedly been routinely taken less seriously in healthcare spaces by their physicians.
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It's excuse me, and by their physicians than their white counterparts.
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Therefore, much less likely to trust health care providers.
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Bioses in healthcare provision not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes, but also result in women and gender expansive people avoiding medical care or receiving inadequate care, which further negatively impacts their health outcomes.
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Ongoing implicit bias and racial disparities in healthcare in New York City are alarming.
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And as a black woman, I am deeply concerned about this particular issue.
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We must recognize that while we'll highlight and draw attention to gender inequities in this hearing, many of the challenges that women face will persist until we take aggressive and effective action to address them.
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Today, we'll be taking a broad look into the leading causes of death among women in the United States and in in New York City.
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Which include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
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We look forward to hearing more about the leading health issues facing women in New York City and the disparities and challenges that women experience experience accessing preventative healthcare services.
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I would like to thank the representatives from the Department of Health And Mental Hygiene, advocates, and members of the people who have joined us today.
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I would also like to thank my staff, Blake Shaw, Phil Marias, Daniel Heridia, as well as committee staff.
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Committee Council Sohar Mosami and senior legislative policy analyst, Christie Dreyer, for their tireless work on this hearing.
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And now, I'd like to turn it over to my colleague, Cherish Shulman, for her opening remarks.
Speaker 2
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Thank you, Cherish.
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Before I begin, I want to acknowledge that we enjoyed by council members, Menin, North Sea's, Momorado, and Vernikoff.