Keywords: Women, healthcare system, citizen sciences, gender biases, sexism

Background:

The French healthcare system, built on the principle of universal equality, still faces entrenched socio-cultural constructions and gender stereotypes. Medical knowledge is historically Eurocentric and male-centred, reflecting the dominant perspective of those who produced it. These biases significantly affect women’s health pathways, widen inequalities and undermine their trust in healthcare settings.

Research questions:

How do sexist and medical violence (SMV) manifest along women’s healthcare pathways, what is their prevalence in France, and how can women trust be restored?

Method:

Citizen and collaborative science : Conceptualise and quantify the sexist and medical violence (SMV) phenomenon by developing a precise definition of SMV in collaboration with multidisciplinary researchers (medicine, law, social sciences, geographic and geopolitical) and citizen co-researchers, integrating their knowledge and experiential insights.
Types of data collected :
- Qualitative: in-depth interviews, focus groups, peer groups and observational studies.
- Quantitative: questionnaires and statistical data on SMV.

Results:

Ongoing

Conclusions:

Desired social impacts
For citizens and victims :
- The opportunity to express their experiences and feel less isolated.
- Greater recognition of their story and suffering, and the prospect of redress.
- Better awareness of their healthcare rights.
- Clearer identification of appropriate resources and support.

For victim-support services
- A sharper understanding of the specific nature of this violence.
- Development of better-suited tools and care protocols.
- Improved training for practitioners on these issues.

For healthcare professionals
- Broader public awareness of these still-taboo issues.
- A questioning of medical norms and practices.
- Progress towards a more respectful and compassionate healthcare system through the engagement of public institutions and rights advocacy organizations

Points for discussion:

How can participative sciences in health promote knowledge and engagement in primary care system ?

How can participative sciences in health help to build a network with citizens, civic society and the local healthcare system ?

How can citizen science projects can be used to tackle a wide range of societal challenges, such as public health, by engaging citizens in finding solutions ?