Press "Enter" to skip to content

Why Sex and Gender Matter in Research | Dr Shirin Heidari | TEDxBritishSchoolGeneva


you find a red card on your seat have a

you find a red card on your seat have a look and raise the card if you agree sex

look and raise the card if you agree sex

look and raise the card if you agree sex matter

not everybody seems to be convinced okay

not everybody seems to be convinced okay yes sex matters but gender matters to

yes sex matters but gender matters to

yes sex matters but gender matters to sex and gender define the way we walk

sex and gender define the way we walk

sex and gender define the way we walk the way we talk the way we look but also

the way we talk the way we look but also

the way we talk the way we look but also the way we are looked at the influenced

the way we are looked at the influenced

the way we are looked at the influenced opportunities we are offered and the

opportunities we are offered and the

opportunities we are offered and the risks we take but today I will be

risks we take but today I will be

risks we take but today I will be talking about how sex and gender

talking about how sex and gender

talking about how sex and gender mattered to our health I will be talking

mattered to our health I will be talking

mattered to our health I will be talking both about sex and gender you see sex is

both about sex and gender you see sex is

both about sex and gender you see sex is biological gender is social but it is

biological gender is social but it is

biological gender is social but it is complicated

HIV is a prime example of the complex

HIV is a prime example of the complex interaction between sex and gender now

interaction between sex and gender now

interaction between sex and gender now some of you are probably too young to

some of you are probably too young to

some of you are probably too young to remember the HIV epidemic in the 80s I

remember the HIV epidemic in the 80s I

remember the HIV epidemic in the 80s I was an HIV scientist when I first come I

was an HIV scientist when I first come I

was an HIV scientist when I first come I came to realize how sex and gender

came to realize how sex and gender

came to realize how sex and gender affect people’s lives did you know for

affect people’s lives did you know for

affect people’s lives did you know for example that young women are twice as

example that young women are twice as

example that young women are twice as likely to become HIV infected compared

likely to become HIV infected compared

likely to become HIV infected compared to young men women are a greater risk

to young men women are a greater risk

to young men women are a greater risk for HIV infection and there are both

for HIV infection and there are both

for HIV infection and there are both biological as well as social reasons for

biological as well as social reasons for

biological as well as social reasons for it biologically women are like more

it biologically women are like more

it biologically women are like more exposed to HIV during sex because of the

exposed to HIV during sex because of the

exposed to HIV during sex because of the larger surface of vagina and cervix

larger surface of vagina and cervix

larger surface of vagina and cervix compared to the areas of the male

compared to the areas of the male

compared to the areas of the male genital tract where HIV transmission

genital tract where HIV transmission

genital tract where HIV transmission occurs in addition they’re also exposed

occurs in addition they’re also exposed

occurs in addition they’re also exposed to a larger volume of seminal fluid

to a larger volume of seminal fluid

to a larger volume of seminal fluid during sex

during sex

during sex but in addition to these biological sex

but in addition to these biological sex

but in addition to these biological sex differences women there are a number of

differences women there are a number of

differences women there are a number of gender related socio-economic factors

gender related socio-economic factors

gender related socio-economic factors that make women more vulnerable to HIV

that make women more vulnerable to HIV

that make women more vulnerable to HIV such as sexual violence refusal of their

such as sexual violence refusal of their

such as sexual violence refusal of their male partners use condom lack of

male partners use condom lack of

male partners use condom lack of economic power or limited education to

economic power or limited education to

economic power or limited education to know how to prevent HIV but gender

know how to prevent HIV but gender

know how to prevent HIV but gender inequality affects men and boys

inequality affects men and boys

inequality affects men and boys negatively to

negatively to

negatively to the notion of masculine they can push

the notion of masculine they can push

the notion of masculine they can push men and boys to take unnecessary risks

men and boys to take unnecessary risks

men and boys to take unnecessary risks such as having multiple sexual partners

such as having multiple sexual partners

such as having multiple sexual partners are not using condom they’re also

are not using condom they’re also

are not using condom they’re also expected to be tough and strong making

expected to be tough and strong making

expected to be tough and strong making them reluctant to seek medical care care

them reluctant to seek medical care care

them reluctant to seek medical care care resulting in late HIV diagnosis and

resulting in late HIV diagnosis and

resulting in late HIV diagnosis and treatment but these fundamental sex and

treatment but these fundamental sex and

treatment but these fundamental sex and gender-based differences are everywhere

gender-based differences are everywhere

gender-based differences are everywhere across all diseases to give you a couple

across all diseases to give you a couple

across all diseases to give you a couple of more examples did you know that women

of more examples did you know that women

of more examples did you know that women suffer more of sport injuries and men

suffer more of sport injuries and men

suffer more of sport injuries and men women for example are six times more

women for example are six times more

women for example are six times more likely than men who have injury in the

likely than men who have injury in the

likely than men who have injury in the knee ligaments or did you know that men

knee ligaments or did you know that men

knee ligaments or did you know that men with anorexia go unnoticed because

with anorexia go unnoticed because

with anorexia go unnoticed because having an eating disorder has been

having an eating disorder has been

having an eating disorder has been characterized as feminine and seeking

characterized as feminine and seeking

characterized as feminine and seeking psychological help as unmanly so you see

psychological help as unmanly so you see

psychological help as unmanly so you see the entire medicine and the medical

the entire medicine and the medical

the entire medicine and the medical field is gendered so what’s the problem

field is gendered so what’s the problem

field is gendered so what’s the problem then the problem is that we have enough

then the problem is that we have enough

then the problem is that we have enough evidence to know that sex and gender

evidence to know that sex and gender

evidence to know that sex and gender matter to our health but we are doing

matter to our health but we are doing

matter to our health but we are doing very little to understand underlying

very little to understand underlying

very little to understand underlying reasons for that and respond to these

reasons for that and respond to these

reasons for that and respond to these differences appropriately and we are

differences appropriately and we are

differences appropriately and we are facing a myriad of problems as an

facing a myriad of problems as an

facing a myriad of problems as an illustration we have now discovered that

illustration we have now discovered that

illustration we have now discovered that more women die of heart disease than men

more women die of heart disease than men

more women die of heart disease than men in fact heart disease is the leading

in fact heart disease is the leading

in fact heart disease is the leading cause of death among women worldwide one

cause of death among women worldwide one

cause of death among women worldwide one of the reasons is that symptoms for

of the reasons is that symptoms for

of the reasons is that symptoms for heart attack was developed based on men

heart attack was developed based on men

heart attack was developed based on men but it shows that women present very

but it shows that women present very

but it shows that women present very different symptoms so it takes longer

different symptoms so it takes longer

different symptoms so it takes longer time for them to seek care and when they

time for them to seek care and when they

time for them to seek care and when they do they may go misdiagnosed do not

do they may go misdiagnosed do not

do they may go misdiagnosed do not receive the right treatment at the right

receive the right treatment at the right

receive the right treatment at the right time another widely used example of

time another widely used example of

time another widely used example of widely known example is drug development

widely known example is drug development

widely known example is drug development in the United States of 10 drugs that

in the United States of 10 drugs that

in the United States of 10 drugs that were withdrawn from the market

were withdrawn from the market

were withdrawn from the market eight were we thrown because they were

eight were we thrown because they were

eight were we thrown because they were causing more harm to women in another

causing more harm to women in another

causing more harm to women in another instance the US Food and Drug

instance the US Food and Drug

instance the US Food and Drug Administration the authority responsible

Administration the authority responsible

Administration the authority responsible for approving medicines before they are

for approving medicines before they are

for approving medicines before they are introduced to the market reduced said

introduced to the market reduced said

introduced to the market reduced said those of the widely used drug ambien to

those of the widely used drug ambien to

those of the widely used drug ambien to half but only for women no changes for

half but only for women no changes for

half but only for women no changes for men women metabolize the drug

men women metabolize the drug

men women metabolize the drug differently and need only half the dose

differently and need only half the dose

differently and need only half the dose for the same effect isn’t that

for the same effect isn’t that

for the same effect isn’t that surprising or isn’t that rather scary

surprising or isn’t that rather scary

surprising or isn’t that rather scary that these fundamental differences are

that these fundamental differences are

that these fundamental differences are discovered after drug has been tested

discovered after drug has been tested

discovered after drug has been tested approved introduced to the market

approved introduced to the market

approved introduced to the market prescribed by doctors and used by us

prescribed by doctors and used by us

prescribed by doctors and used by us these are for drugs that half of the

these are for drugs that half of the

these are for drugs that half of the population use why this gender bias well

population use why this gender bias well

population use why this gender bias well it appears that in medicine the white

it appears that in medicine the white

it appears that in medicine the white male body has been the point of

male body has been the point of

male body has been the point of reference here we go

reference here we go

reference here we go meaning that anyone that shows different

meaning that anyone that shows different

meaning that anyone that shows different symptoms or responds to treat

symptoms or responds to treat

symptoms or responds to treat differently than the average white male

differently than the average white male

differently than the average white male may go misdiagnosed or treated wrongly I

may go misdiagnosed or treated wrongly I

may go misdiagnosed or treated wrongly I couldn’t understand why it was so

couldn’t understand why it was so

couldn’t understand why it was so difficult for researchers to really

difficult for researchers to really

difficult for researchers to really recognize and acknowledge and examine

recognize and acknowledge and examine

recognize and acknowledge and examine these important differences after all

these important differences after all

these important differences after all this is a well-known fact already in

this is a well-known fact already in

this is a well-known fact already in 1973 in the oldest medical journal the

1973 in the oldest medical journal the

1973 in the oldest medical journal the lancet an article highlights how sex and

lancet an article highlights how sex and

lancet an article highlights how sex and gender influences across medicine and

gender influences across medicine and

gender influences across medicine and how little we know and today researchers

how little we know and today researchers

how little we know and today researchers still fail to think that sex and gender

still fail to think that sex and gender

still fail to think that sex and gender matter until they stumble upon it so let

matter until they stumble upon it so let

matter until they stumble upon it so let me give you a personal anecdote here my

me give you a personal anecdote here my

me give you a personal anecdote here my husband is a surgeon more precisely he

husband is a surgeon more precisely he

husband is a surgeon more precisely he operates patients with the cancer of the

operates patients with the cancer of the

operates patients with the cancer of the esophagus he’s also a researcher I have

esophagus he’s also a researcher I have

esophagus he’s also a researcher I have been trying since the beginning of time

been trying since the beginning of time

been trying since the beginning of time to convince him to look at the

to convince him to look at the

to convince him to look at the differences between male and female

differences between male and female

differences between male and female patients

patients

patients and he has persistently claimed that

and he has persistently claimed that

and he has persistently claimed that there are no differences in outcome

there are no differences in outcome

there are no differences in outcome until recently he comes from one night

until recently he comes from one night

until recently he comes from one night and rather awkwardly says we have found

and rather awkwardly says we have found

and rather awkwardly says we have found these findings at my clinic which are

these findings at my clinic which are

these findings at my clinic which are very bizarre I bet you’d be happy to

very bizarre I bet you’d be happy to

very bizarre I bet you’d be happy to hear about it well that sounded odd and

hear about it well that sounded odd and

hear about it well that sounded odd and then he continues by a mere coincidence

then he continues by a mere coincidence

then he continues by a mere coincidence we have now noticed that our female

we have now noticed that our female

we have now noticed that our female patients have fewer complications after

patients have fewer complications after

patients have fewer complications after an operation are doing better and we

an operation are doing better and we

an operation are doing better and we just can’t figure out why Wow I was

just can’t figure out why Wow I was

just can’t figure out why Wow I was really excited I was happy because he

really excited I was happy because he

really excited I was happy because he finally admitted that I was right

finally admitted that I was right

finally admitted that I was right although he should have known that I’m

although he should have known that I’m

although he should have known that I’m always right but imagine imagine if they

always right but imagine imagine if they

always right but imagine imagine if they do figure out why their female patients

do figure out why their female patients

do figure out why their female patients are doing better they could improve the

are doing better they could improve the

are doing better they could improve the survival of their maiya patients based

survival of their maiya patients based

survival of their maiya patients based on what they learn from their female

on what they learn from their female

on what they learn from their female patients examining these differences is

patients examining these differences is

patients examining these differences is beneficial for everybody but medical

beneficial for everybody but medical

beneficial for everybody but medical research which is meant to answer a

research which is meant to answer a

research which is meant to answer a question if a treatment or a drug work

question if a treatment or a drug work

question if a treatment or a drug work often doesn’t include enough women to be

often doesn’t include enough women to be

often doesn’t include enough women to be able to examine these differences my

able to examine these differences my

able to examine these differences my team and I looked at a sample of HIV

team and I looked at a sample of HIV

team and I looked at a sample of HIV drug clinical trials clinical trials of

drug clinical trials clinical trials of

drug clinical trials clinical trials of drugs are designed to answer the

drugs are designed to answer the

drugs are designed to answer the question if a drug is safe and effective

question if a drug is safe and effective

question if a drug is safe and effective compared to placebo in our sample of

compared to placebo in our sample of

compared to placebo in our sample of over 95,000 patients that were included

over 95,000 patients that were included

over 95,000 patients that were included in these trials only about a quarter

in these trials only about a quarter

in these trials only about a quarter where women more surprisingly of about

where women more surprisingly of about

where women more surprisingly of about 500 scientific articles that reported

500 scientific articles that reported

500 scientific articles that reported the results of these clinical trials

the results of these clinical trials

the results of these clinical trials only 17% mentioned sex or gender at that

only 17% mentioned sex or gender at that

only 17% mentioned sex or gender at that time I was started thinking about what

time I was started thinking about what

time I was started thinking about what could I do about this gender bias at a

could I do about this gender bias at a

could I do about this gender bias at a time I was an editor of an medical

time I was an editor of an medical

time I was an editor of an medical journal of an HIV Journal medical

journal of an HIV Journal medical

journal of an HIV Journal medical journals are important because research

journals are important because research

journals are important because research findings are

findings are

findings are communicated to the great their medical

communicated to the great their medical

communicated to the great their medical community and public through publication

community and public through publication

community and public through publication of scientific articles as a medical

of scientific articles as a medical

of scientific articles as a medical editor I have an opportunity to make a

editor I have an opportunity to make a

editor I have an opportunity to make a difference so I decided to introduce a

difference so I decided to introduce a

difference so I decided to introduce a gender policy I decided to ask my

gender policy I decided to ask my

gender policy I decided to ask my authors to mention how many men how many

authors to mention how many men how many

authors to mention how many men how many women and if included in their study how

women and if included in their study how

women and if included in their study how many transgender person participated in

many transgender person participated in

many transgender person participated in their research and also describe if they

their research and also describe if they

their research and also describe if they looked at any differences among these

looked at any differences among these

looked at any differences among these groups and if not explained why it’s

groups and if not explained why it’s

groups and if not explained why it’s quite simple right but for any idea to

quite simple right but for any idea to

quite simple right but for any idea to enable a profound change it needs to be

enable a profound change it needs to be

enable a profound change it needs to be replicated so I approached a few other

replicated so I approached a few other

replicated so I approached a few other editors of other HIV journals and

editors of other HIV journals and

editors of other HIV journals and suddenly we were a handful of journals

suddenly we were a handful of journals

suddenly we were a handful of journals acknowledging I’m embracing the

acknowledging I’m embracing the

acknowledging I’m embracing the importance of sex and gender in HIV

importance of sex and gender in HIV

importance of sex and gender in HIV research as I grew more and more

research as I grew more and more

research as I grew more and more interested in this topic I came across

interested in this topic I came across

interested in this topic I came across really fascinating example about how sex

really fascinating example about how sex

really fascinating example about how sex and gender affect us and affect our

and gender affect us and affect our

and gender affect us and affect our lives and health beyond medicine and I’d

lives and health beyond medicine and I’d

lives and health beyond medicine and I’d love to share a couple of these with you

love to share a couple of these with you

love to share a couple of these with you some of them are really eye-opening I

some of them are really eye-opening I

some of them are really eye-opening I came across this study that looked at

came across this study that looked at

came across this study that looked at whiplash injuries

whiplash injuries

whiplash injuries now whiplash is an injury to the neck

now whiplash is an injury to the neck

now whiplash is an injury to the neck caused by rapid forceful back and move

caused by rapid forceful back and move

caused by rapid forceful back and move back and forth movement in car accidents

back and forth movement in car accidents

back and forth movement in car accidents this study showed that women suffer 2 to

this study showed that women suffer 2 to

this study showed that women suffer 2 to 3 times more a whiplash than men and

3 times more a whiplash than men and

3 times more a whiplash than men and they take longer to recover do you know

they take longer to recover do you know

they take longer to recover do you know why isn’t this they found out that the

why isn’t this they found out that the

why isn’t this they found out that the crash test dummies used by car

crash test dummies used by car

crash test dummies used by car manufacturers to test the safety safety

manufacturers to test the safety safety

manufacturers to test the safety safety of the cars its features were based on

of the cars its features were based on

of the cars its features were based on white male models even that fascinating

white male models even that fascinating

white male models even that fascinating how not thinking about the differences

how not thinking about the differences

how not thinking about the differences between women and men’s anatomy can have

between women and men’s anatomy can have

between women and men’s anatomy can have come at a very huge cost to women and

come at a very huge cost to women and

come at a very huge cost to women and society now I would like to take you to

society now I would like to take you to

society now I would like to take you to study about hurricanes now you probably

study about hurricanes now you probably

study about hurricanes now you probably wonder what have hurricanes have to do

wonder what have hurricanes have to do

wonder what have hurricanes have to do with sex and gender right

with sex and gender right

with sex and gender right well you all have heard about Hurricane

well you all have heard about Hurricane

well you all have heard about Hurricane Katrina hurricane Mathieu hurricane Irma

Katrina hurricane Mathieu hurricane Irma

Katrina hurricane Mathieu hurricane Irma and the damages that they caused well

and the damages that they caused well

and the damages that they caused well this study looked at strong hurricanes

this study looked at strong hurricanes

this study looked at strong hurricanes of same intensity and showed that

of same intensity and showed that

of same intensity and showed that hurricanes with male with female names

hurricanes with male with female names

hurricanes with male with female names tend to be deadlier than hurricanes from

tend to be deadlier than hurricanes from

tend to be deadlier than hurricanes from male names the authors conclude that

male names the authors conclude that

male names the authors conclude that individuals simply underestimate the

individuals simply underestimate the

individuals simply underestimate the strength of the hurricane and their

strength of the hurricane and their

strength of the hurricane and their vulnerability to it if the hurricane has

vulnerability to it if the hurricane has

vulnerability to it if the hurricane has a more feminine name compared to when it

a more feminine name compared to when it

a more feminine name compared to when it has a more masculine name isn’t that

has a more masculine name isn’t that

has a more masculine name isn’t that just fascinating how we are

just fascinating how we are

just fascinating how we are subconsciously affected by the gender

subconsciously affected by the gender

subconsciously affected by the gender roles and expectations that we have

roles and expectations that we have

roles and expectations that we have created in our society well as I came

created in our society well as I came

created in our society well as I came across these examples our even more

across these examples our even more

across these examples our even more convinced that we had to do things

convinced that we had to do things

convinced that we had to do things differently we had to change minds so I

differently we had to change minds so I

differently we had to change minds so I started thinking so why not think big

started thinking so why not think big

started thinking so why not think big why not try to encourage all scientific

why not try to encourage all scientific

why not try to encourage all scientific journals across disciplines beyond

journals across disciplines beyond

journals across disciplines beyond medicine to introduce a gender policy so

medicine to introduce a gender policy so

medicine to introduce a gender policy so I set up a gender policy committee

I set up a gender policy committee

I set up a gender policy committee I brought together a group of

I brought together a group of

I brought together a group of like-minded committed driven researchers

like-minded committed driven researchers

like-minded committed driven researchers doctors editors science communicators

doctors editors science communicators

doctors editors science communicators under the umbrella of European

under the umbrella of European

under the umbrella of European Association of science editors together

Association of science editors together

Association of science editors together we embarked on a journey we were all

we embarked on a journey we were all

we embarked on a journey we were all volunteering on top of our daily jobs we

volunteering on top of our daily jobs we

volunteering on top of our daily jobs we were using our spare time and our own

were using our spare time and our own

were using our spare time and our own resources and it took us over two years

resources and it took us over two years

resources and it took us over two years to develop a set of guidelines which we

to develop a set of guidelines which we

to develop a set of guidelines which we called sex and gender equity in research

called sex and gender equity in research

called sex and gender equity in research this sager guidelines we thought it was

this sager guidelines we thought it was

this sager guidelines we thought it was an appropriate name we had to be Sager

an appropriate name we had to be Sager

an appropriate name we had to be Sager in the way we did research and reported

in the way we did research and reported

in the way we did research and reported it the Sager guidelines provide a set of

it the Sager guidelines provide a set of

it the Sager guidelines provide a set of clear and simple instructions to authors

clear and simple instructions to authors

clear and simple instructions to authors and researchers we provide a set of

and researchers we provide a set of

and researchers we provide a set of recommendations but the three main

recommendations but the three main

recommendations but the three main points are always mentioned the sex or

points are always mentioned the sex or

points are always mentioned the sex or gender of your subject in your research

gender of your subject in your research

gender of your subject in your research if you’re using animals cells or tissues

if you’re using animals cells or tissues

if you’re using animals cells or tissues you need to mention the sex if you’re

you need to mention the sex if you’re

you need to mention the sex if you’re developing an app or a technology you

developing an app or a technology you

developing an app or a technology you need to mention if it’s gonna be

need to mention if it’s gonna be

need to mention if it’s gonna be applying on both men and women to always

applying on both men and women to always

applying on both men and women to always disaggregate your data by sex

disaggregate your data by sex

disaggregate your data by sex meaning that presents your data

meaning that presents your data

meaning that presents your data separately for men and women and if

separately for men and women and if

separately for men and women and if included in your study transgender

included in your study transgender

included in your study transgender persons and finally and most importantly

persons and finally and most importantly

persons and finally and most importantly analyze your data with the gender lens

analyze your data with the gender lens

analyze your data with the gender lens look at differences look at biological

look at differences look at biological

look at differences look at biological differences if you’re in a medicine look

differences if you’re in a medicine look

differences if you’re in a medicine look at gender-based differences and if you

at gender-based differences and if you

at gender-based differences and if you do not look up any differences between

do not look up any differences between

do not look up any differences between the sexes and the genders you better

the sexes and the genders you better

the sexes and the genders you better have a good excuse and we want to hear

have a good excuse and we want to hear

have a good excuse and we want to hear that the sager guidelines were launched

that the sager guidelines were launched

that the sager guidelines were launched in 2016 and it has received a lot of

in 2016 and it has received a lot of

in 2016 and it has received a lot of attention more and more journals are

attention more and more journals are

attention more and more journals are endorsing it or translating it into

endorsing it or translating it into

endorsing it or translating it into other languages but we have a long way

other languages but we have a long way

other languages but we have a long way to go there is still a lot of resistance

to go there is still a lot of resistance

to go there is still a lot of resistance to change but now I’m confident I’m

to change but now I’m confident I’m

to change but now I’m confident I’m confident that the change is possible

confident that the change is possible

confident that the change is possible and it’s happening there is increasing

and it’s happening there is increasing

and it’s happening there is increasing number of researchers doctors patients

number of researchers doctors patients

number of researchers doctors patients who are aware of these important

who are aware of these important

who are aware of these important differences and demanding a change and I

differences and demanding a change and I

differences and demanding a change and I want to invite you to join this movement

want to invite you to join this movement

want to invite you to join this movement you can make a difference while you may

you can make a difference while you may

you can make a difference while you may choose different career paths we all

choose different career paths we all

choose different career paths we all have something in common we all have a

have something in common we all have a

have something in common we all have a sex and we all have a gender we are all

sex and we all have a gender we are all

sex and we all have a gender we are all patients and consumers protecting our

patients and consumers protecting our

patients and consumers protecting our health and that of our loved ones so

health and that of our loved ones so

health and that of our loved ones so demand evidence question current

demand evidence question current

demand evidence question current practice drive a change let’s together

practice drive a change let’s together

practice drive a change let’s together put on our gender lens and make sure

put on our gender lens and make sure

put on our gender lens and make sure health care and our society is based on

health care and our society is based on

health care and our society is based on evidence and benefit all today we know

evidence and benefit all today we know

evidence and benefit all today we know that every cell is sexed today we know

that every cell is sexed today we know

that every cell is sexed today we know that everybody is gendered this is no

that everybody is gendered this is no

that everybody is gendered this is no longer a question today we know that sex

longer a question today we know that sex

longer a question today we know that sex gender matter thank you

gender matter thank you

gender matter thank you [Applause]

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *