Prefatory note: In line with Imperial College’s equality, diversity and inclusion policy, and our own values, the Women’s Health Network is committed to creating, maintaining and consistently improving an inclusive environment and opportunities for all. In using the term “women”, we include all women and females, including those whose gender does and does not align with their sex at birth, as well as those who are intersex. Some of the topics covered in the webinars will also be of relevance to transgender men who have retained their reproductive organs and gender diverse people. 

BACKGROUND 

Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw in 1989, highlights the interconnected nature of social identities and the resulting systems of oppression, domination and discrimination. In the context of women’s health, intersectionality underscores the diverse experiences and needs of women and females stemming from social factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation and disability. These intersecting identities shape access to healthcare, health outcomes and experiences within the healthcare system.  

Despite increasing recognition of the need to understand diverse experiences, the integration of intersectional approaches into health service design, care delivery and research remains limited. To address this, it is important that healthcare professionals and researchers recognise that failure to take an intersectional approach to women’s health can lead to further discrimination and disadvantage among diverse groups of women. 

Through a two-part webinar series, we aim to explore the principles of inclusive healthcare and research, and offer guidance on how to approach this work, emphasising the importance of intersectionality in promoting equitable and effective healthcare and evidence generation for all women and females. 

OBJECTIVES 

• Raise awareness of the importance of more inclusive, intersectional research, and guidance on how to do this work.
• Use a combination of numbers and narratives to convey the stark inequities that exist among women and females, both in terms of the healthcare they receive and their outcomes.
• Highlight knowledge gaps in our understanding of intersectional health disparities amongst women, girls and gender minorities.

AGENDA 

PART 1: Inclusive Research (Tuesday 16th July) 

• Welcome and Introduction
• Dr Suman Prinjha and Dr Ada Achinanya on better inclusion of ethnic minority groups in health research
• Jessica Dark speaking on eight principles of neuro-inclusive inclusive research methods
• Q&A and Discussion 

 Part 2: Inclusive Care (Tuesday 30th July) 

• Welcome and Introduction
• Conversational panel discussion between Dez Mendoza, Elliann Fairbairn and Aabida Patel about their experiences navigating the healthcare system with a disability and other intersecting characteristics
• Dr Rageshri Dhairyawan on her recent book “Unheard: The Medical Practice of Silencing”
• Q&A and Close