The narrative of gender equality in the global context has been extremely popular with social studies and media. However, while many people and organizations nationwide shed light on the issue of the gender revolution, the problem itself remains complex and challenging for women. Thus, according to the study by England et al. (2020), “there has been dramatic progress in moving toward gender equality, but, in recent decades, change has slowed and, on some indicators, stalled entirely” (p. 6990). Thus, when the number of women with higher education continues to grow unprecedentedly, some legislators present initiatives to block women’s right to control their reproductive health. A prime example of such an unjust limitation is the Texas Heartbeat Act which forbids women to have abortions once the fetus’s heartbeat is detected (87(R) HB 1515). Hence, it becomes evident that currently, the US context of feminism requires even more attention.
For this reason, the global goal of gender equality should be met at all levels, including interpersonal communication and legislature. As far as health care is concerned, the primary issue of gender inequality addresses the issue of access to the services and the quality of care provided. Thus, nowadays, insurance companies estimate that even after the introduction of the Affordable Care Act of 2010, the insurance price discrepancy between men and women remains unreasonably high, claiming that health care for women is more demanding and complex (“Equally insured?” 2020). Such a statement is ethically and morally questionable, as it is unclear whether women should be held financially responsible for the physical peculiarities of their bodies. In order to combat this issue, nurses should serve as advocates for equal access to health care regardless of gender. Thus, as a nurse, I would initiate the process of collaboration with the local NGOs, private insurance companies, and patrons to create a platform for financial and psychological support for women in terms of access and funding of health care. Moreover, nurses could create an educational platform for women’s health awareness campaigns as a part of a fight for universal respect for women and their body image.
References
87(R), 1515 House Bill, 2021 Reg. Sess. A BILL TO BE ENTITLEDю (2021).
England, P., Levine, A., & Mishel, E. (2020). Progress toward gender equality in the United States has slowed or stalled.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(13), 6990-6997.
Equally insured? What you need to know about women and health insurance coverage. (2020). Coverage. Web.