Opinion

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to hear the voices of queer women who have been historically silenced”, write Marita Holmest-Varpe and Malena Chronholm Bøyesen at FRI.

(This chronicle was first published in Dagsavisen)

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, attention is drawn to the lack of equality of women around the world. What is colloquially called “women’s health” is a low priority area of ​​politics.

Women generally experience more pain and poorer health care. Pain in women is often underestimated and considered to have more diffuse symptoms than men. So-called “women’s diseases”, such as endometriosis, are given low priority in terms of treatment. It is therefore important that diseases and health conditions that only or primarily affect women and womb carriers receive attention on International Women’s Day.

Women in marginalized groups suffer more from living in a patriarchal form of society. Due to their minority status, people may suffer from increased stress.

The stress of this minority affects health, both somatically and psychologically, and thus quality of life. Queer women form a marginalized group. In this text, the category “queer woman” is an umbrella term for, among other things, lesbians, bisexual women, and trans women.

Queer women share the same problems as all women in the healthcare system, related to a lack of equal care. But queer women also face more challenges and concerns, not just because of their gender, but because of who they are and who they love. In societies where heterosexuality is the norm, the situation of queer women is often made invisible. Being open and not being open is a choice that can cause stress for minorities.

When a queer woman opens up about her queerness, she’s also open to accept and relate to the reactions of the outside world. Because women in general are already at a disadvantage when it comes to health care, this makes queer women particularly vulnerable.

Several studies have shown the same result. Compared to other women, lesbian and bisexual women have ithigher risk to have a certain disease. Queers are generally more vulnerable tocardiovascular disease. Lesbians are also more vulnerablegynecological cancerwhereas trans women have a higher risksexually transmitted infection.

Queer women also suffer more from psychological problems. Feelings of being ostracized can be a cause of worse mental health. Oneenglish health report with more than 5,000 participants showing that lesbian and bisexual women suffer from anxiety more frequently. Transgender people and lesbians in the UK tend to report more frequentlydifferent treatment and lack of understanding from health workers.

A new study in Sweden, conducted in 2022 by RFSL Stockholm, shows that healthcare workers’ reactions to sexual identity influence whether queer women are ashamed of their orientation. In this way, health services are paradoxically contributing to deteriorating health. The study results show that the health care system lacks knowledge when it comes to caring for queer women. This in turn causes queer women to avoid seeking healthcare to an even greater degree.

In the long term, this avoidance behavior also leads to health problems – both psychologically and somatically. Prejudice or incompetent treatment causes queer women who decide to seek health care to avoid mentioning their sexual identity. The Swedish study shows that health workers need more knowledge about treatment and care for queer women. Swedish health workers, for example, lack knowledge about cell sampling and sexually transmitted diseases in queer women. Some have been refused when they asked to be tested.

It is reasonable to believe that the results from the Swedish study can be translated into Norwegian conditions. In Norway, bisexual and trans women are overrepresented in even worse circumstancesself-assessed health. OneNorwegian report made on behalf of the Directorate of Children, Youth and Families (Bufdir) shows that bisexual women have bigger health problems than women with other sexual orientations. The health of bisexual women generally gets worse, but this group also suffers more from psychological problems and alcohol abuse.

The studies mentioned above show that the health care system lacks knowledge about health care for queer women. It turns out that this lack of knowledge also worsens the health of queer women. One reason for the ignorance of health workers is that queer women are made invisible in society. The current work climate in the healthcare system, with its reprioritization and budget cuts, further complicates the situation.

There is a lack of funds and expertise to create an inclusive hospital environment. Groups that are marginalized in care are thus more vulnerable than ever. Even though the treatment given by health workers must be adjusted to the needs of the patient and the circumstances of each§2-5 of the Patients and Users Act

The health of queer women is an important but forgotten part of the women’s struggle and March 8th. By demonstrating the health of queer women during March 8, society as a whole can become more inclusive.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to hear the voices of queer women who have been historically silenced. By working together, we can overcome the discrimination that affects each of us. When marginalized individuals are allowed to enter and work together, the possibility of creating an equal and inclusive society increases. This is what March 8 is all about.