Health and Disease in American Culture

Flashcards based on the lecture notes about the reform of the American medical profession and the role of women in medicine.

Flexner report

A report that exposed the lack of standards in medical institutions, leading to their closure and reform in American medicine.

Masculinization of curing

The notion that curing is a role predominantly held by men, which contributed to the exclusion of women in the medical profession.

Feminization of caring

The concept that caring roles are seen as more suitable for women, influencing societal views on medical professions.

Women's involvement in public health

The perspective that women should contribute to public health due to their roles in home care and their perceived understanding of patient needs.

Self-support

The desire of women to become trained physicians in order to earn their own income and achieve financial independence.

Opposition to women doctors

Arguments made against women in medicine, including concerns about their intellectual capacity, emotional stability, and the challenging of traditional gender roles.

Connecting link

The role women physicians played as intermediaries between the medical profession and everyday life, enhancing patient care.

Heroic medicine

A medical approach prevalent in the mid-nineteenth century in America, focusing on aggressive treatments that often lacked scientific backing.