Gender and Bias in Science and Health

Emily Martin discusses the romanticization of egg and sperm, noting the egg is gendered female, and sperm male. She argues that the egg is active in fertilization, potentially enveloping sperm and selecting for genes, rather than being passively penetrated.
This portrayal is considered a "gender distortion in science."
Gendered aspects extend to products like period products and birth control.
Historical examples, like the Canadian food guide, show how racism affected health advice, particularly for women, linking health to prevention of "uterine disease, hysteria, and other derangements of the nervous system."
Government initiatives, like Heritage Minutes, often portray marginalized groups by focusing on struggles rather than accomplishments.
A key hypothesis is that feminism, not just the presence of women, is necessary to correct gender biases in scientific research.
Increased funding (grants, bursaries) and profit incentives are crucial for driving research in these areas.