3 – Role of Advocacy Groups in Research on Women's Health

This chapter discusses some of the key accomplishments of several advocates who laid the foundation for future progress in women's health. Dating back at least as far as 1913—when a news headline announced that “rich women begin a war on cancer”—medical research, policies, and practices in the twentieth century United States have been profoundly influenced by three distinct waves of women's health advocates: the first spearheaded by progressive wealthy women; the second by feminist activists; and the third by professionals, including doctors, scientists, legislators, lawyers, and corporate executives. Within each wave, key individuals and the organizations that they founded or led identified their priority issues and advocated to make them priorities for the nation. They worked not only to bring women's health to the top of the agenda but also to bring women's voices and input to the development of research initiatives and policies. In retrospect, women's health advocates have had a profound impact, particularly in the areas of informed consent and biomedical research. The future of women's health research depends on advocates continuing to serve both as watchdogs and as sources of new ideas and issues to be addressed.