Vancouver Women's Health Collective
Organization profile published 1983
http://www.womenshealthcollective.ca/
Year Published: 1983
Resource Type: Organization
Cx Number: CX2735
Abstract:
The fundamental principle by which the VANCOUVER WOMEN'S HEALTH COLLECTIVE operates is that women have a right to control their bodies. "Women who are knowledgeable about their bodies and their care are less easily mystified or intimidated by professionals who attempt to monopolize information and power. "HEALTH COLLECTIVE members organize public discussions on women's health issues and on the health industry. A research group garthers information and facilitates skill-sharing clinics on specific topics. Pregnancy and birth control counselling and abortion referral are provided by collective members.
"A Feminist Approach to Pap Tests" is a twelve page supplement written by the HEALTH COLLECTIVE for inclusion in the February 1983 edition of Kinesis. The authors were concerned about the lack of good information and the abundance of surgical procedures relating to abnormal Pap test results. They wrote the article to share information collected through library research, discussion with health care personnel. and through listening to and reading about other women's experiences.
The article outlines the influence allegedly related to abnormal Pap test results -- hormones, infections, viruses, environment, stress and class. Medical treatments such as cryosurgery and biopsy are described, along with alternative treatments including vitamins, diet, lifestyle changes, and replacing Pill and IUD usage with barrier methods of birth control. Learning of abnormal Pap tests results can cause great stress and vulnerability. The aurthors of this article hope that the information presented will help to relieve some of these stresses by providing information and by arming women with information to make thorougly informed decisions, and ....to proceed in a more powerful and purposeful manner." The article is available from the COLLECTIVE for $.50
This abstract was published in the Connexions Digest in 1983.
See also CX2735.
Subject Headings
