Biomedicines Effect on Women Autonomy and Freedom - Essay Example

?Drawing on Relevant Theory, Evaluate the Proposition That Biomedicine Has Contributed To Increased Freedom and Autonomy for Women Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 Biomedicine: Development 19th Century Onwards 4 Biomedicine’s Effect on Women Autonomy and Freedom 5 Conclusion 9 References 11 Bibliography 13 Introduction Biomedicine is referred as medicine created by applying the principles involved in natural sciences with special emphasis on biochemistry and biology. To define it medically, it may be referred as a branch in the medical sciences which is especially connected to the human being’s capacity to strive in an abnormal and stressful environment along with the environment’s protective changes (Lloyd, 2012). The modernized scientific medicine of the western origin is generally referred as “biomedical” because it tends to give an explanation of health in biological terms. It emphasises on the learning in context of body structure that is anatomy and the physiology or the systems involved in a body structure, thus enabling to better understand the various mechanisms of a human body such as the heart, brain, nerve and artery among others (Lloyd, 2012). Health of living things can be described as a state of the body when all the parts are functioning normally. In case of any little abnormality due to virus attack on the human body, or occurrence of any such internal changes or any wearing out of parts the specialists are required to take necessary steps to mend it and keep the system running (Lloyd, 2012). The requirement of medical practitioners facilitates to get rid of any imbalance in the body. The best way otherwise thought of is being protective and leading a healthy life in order to prevent the need of such practitioners. The discovery of Biomedicine or Biomedical studies has provided with the knowledge about the various causes leading to infectious diseases. During the Industrial Revolution, there was a widespread of various diseases thus the public health movement was brought to practice. The key of such health movements were the relationships of the individuals with the natural or manufactured environment around them and that to enhance the wellbeing of human, an intervention to modify the environment is important (Lloyd, 2012). This essay intends to focus on the relevant theories and evaluate the contribution of biomedicine on the increased autonomy and freedom for women. Biomedicine: Development 19th Century Onwards The importance of medicine goes hand in hand with the importance of health as it is seen to act as the catalyst in repairing any kind of damages in the human anatomical system which includes the biological as well as the physiological aspects of a human body. Biomedicine is a concept to connect both the aspects of human body and provides an edge to the study of medicine for providing better support to mankind in order to combat with the unnecessary ailments that attack the human body (University of Bath, n.d.). In the nineteenth century onwards, the modernization of biomedicine took place with the advent of two major developments namely; the Cartesian Revolution or Rene Descartes and Pasteur 1850’s development of ‘Germ Theory. Both of these developments still have their influence in this modern world and are also considered as the basis of modernization in the world of medicine today (University of Bath, n.d.). The Cartesian Revolution is a dualistic approach explored by Rene Decartes. This approach uses a mechanistic view to look at issues and solve them accordingly. In context to this theory, human body is viewed as a machine and thus repairing of the same is done accordingly (University of Bath, n.d.). The ‘Germ Theory’ developed by Pasteur has a different interface to look at the causes of a disease. Pasteur believed that the transmission of disease is done by the microscopic micro–organism. These organisms as referred to by Pasteur are germs that happen to float in the air. During 1870’s Pasteur happened to describe these said germs as disease causing agents rather the product from the disease. A particular micro organism was held responsible for every individual disease (University of Bath, n.d.). As time kept on rolling, the young researchers being the prodigy of the ones in the ancient times kept searching for newer concepts to support the whole medical system better than before. It was now when a belief hovered over, that diseases are the end of the tail in the process of falling ill, rather it is the ‘prior causes’ that are present in the day–to–day life of an individual which contributes mostly to the illnesses. The personal crisis situations and the stress arising out of them are the important causes among the rest (University of Bath, n.d.). Biomedicine’s Effect on Women Autonomy and Freedom The concept of Biomedicine is seen to be in practice from the end eighteenth century. Women health has always been in the limelight having a focus on their reproducing capacity and its various pros and cons. The effect of Biomedicine on women autonomy and empowerment mainly point at the fertility issues relating to a woman (Ruzek & et. al., n.d.). The existing society is regarded as a paternalistic society where men are considered to be the first class citizens and treated accordingly. Women for this reason are privileged but are not completely focused on with respect to their health issues. This has been a practice since the beginning of the livelihood on earth. A woman, right from her birth, inherits a complex anatomical system. This is due to her capability of giving birth. The various ups and downs whether natural or incidental that a female body goes through have a lot of impacts on the health of a woman. The changes in the body of a woman owing to her age and the subsequent variation in her psychological balance may be considered as the basic factors affecting her health as a whole. These impacts need focused attention from its initials so that the adverse effects are anticipated and thus the individuals are prepared to combat them (Ruzek & et. al., n.d.). The discovery of Biomedicines has contributed a lot in providing freedom to women and has provided them with the power of going by their own choice in case of reproducing along with contributing certain disadvantages as well. The biomedicines have in a way been more of an advantage for the women than disadvantage in a lot of ways. It is by the researches involved in biomedicines that the various aspects such as social, environment and mental among others are taken into account by the medical practitioners, enabling a better research on the issues involving woman health (Ruzek & et. al., n.d.). The Biomedical model of women’s health has a lot advantages in it. Biomedical intervention has once again brought the focus on woman health to limelight thus giving the whole situation a new dimension to look into the issue. Instead of focusing on the factors such as job training, environmental safety and health education merely, biomedical medical interventions have been more focused on being inclusive of the social factors that affect women’s health. It can be reckoned that the good practices effecting health like avoidance of tobacco, intake of healthy diet and regular exercise among other such activities have been focused on following the spotlight on social factors affecting the health. These are held as primary preventive activities following which the female counterpart would be able to avoid a lot of health issues that generally need to be treated by a medical practitioner (National Women’s Council of Ireland, 2005). With the advent of biomedical concepts, the focus on proactive health care for women has been brought to practice. Women health is said to have an effect of various external factors such as education, income level, the culture followed, the race they belong from and their ethnicity. The living conditions and working conditions have a great influence in shaping the health of a woman. Thus, creation of health is a creative and interactive process, and the mentioned factors help in avoiding illness. The medical assistance that is received from the use of medicines and various medical procedures may be helpful during sickness but maintaining health would require an intervention in many other factors which though external still play a pivotal role in remaining healthy. The advent of biomedicines has led to the removal of a stigma according to which most of women health issues were considered to be psychogenic in nature, i.e. a concept of “all in head” was more accepted by the medical practitioners in case of women health thus the relevant scientific investigation and clinical attention was ignored to a great extent (National Women’s Council of Ireland, 2005). The recent researches conducted on biomedicines require a woman to be healthy to avoid illness and it also focuses on various social factors that by and large affect the health conditions of women. Thus, Biomedicines can be most effectively used for a bright future of the small girls by making them follow the healthy practices that would lead to a healthy and problem free growth of the organs helping to avoid a lot of hardships that might be faced naturally or incidentally (National Women’s Council of Ireland, 2005). Every aspect of the study or rather the research involved in discovery and implementation of Biomedicines shows the required changes in the livelihood of woman (Nissen, 2011). After a brief review about the advantages of biomedicines, a discussion on the contrary aspects would help to know about the adverse side of biomedicines intervention in connection to a woman’s life. The current concept such as the concept of surrogacy among others has its advantage as well as disadvantage on women. The disadvantages of the mentioned concept are far more pathetic than its real advantages (University of Reading, 2011) It is believed that Biomedicine or the Biomedical models have entrusted men with over the head opportunity thus allowing them to take over on the female body. Infertility is a commonly heard term in the past few decades. The use of Biomedical models is believed to inculcate infertility in the society and moreover it is said to have contribution in establishing the infertility as a disease only among women and not men. This set of philosophy tends to corner women and creates a scope for abuses to be faced by them from their respective families (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 2008) The mental health of human which plays a great role in any said illness of human beings is seen to be quite ignored with the practice of biomedical tools. In case of women, the bodily changes are highly affected by the mental balance and thus need to be delicately handled. In case of any mental issue of a woman, weakness is seen to be captured by the medicines thus making women totally dependent on the medicinal process which may prove to affect their health otherwise (Nettleton, 2006). Conclusion Women’s health is a very critical and a delicate aspect to study. It depends on factors ranging from change in age, geographical location and time and most importantly it varies a lot from that of men’s health. The critical anatomy of female following the capacity of giving birth to a child has made it more difficult to understand and figure out specific reasons in support of ill health of a woman. The various critical changes with age and the natural process of maturity also tend to affect the mental balance which makes women’s health a lot more delicate compared to that of a man. A careful notice must be brought in focus to inculcate healthy habits in girls’ right from the inception to avoid critical ill–health in future. Therefore, from the overall research made in lieu of the topic it can be concluded that maintenance of health is a proactive process involving the control of a lot of external factors that may affect the health of an individual. In the evolution of Biomedicines, it is apparent that that the invention has helped the mankind positively by a great extent with emphasis on the woman health aspect. The external factors concerned with health plays a pivotal role thus considering the criticality involved in anatomy of female body. These concerned factors must be most importantly taken care. The varied awareness about healthy practices, environmental and social aspects concerning their health must be preached among women thereby making them health conscious and helping them combat with the probable issues related to health. The social focus brought about by the exploration of Biomedicines is thus a boon in lieu of empowering their freedom and autonomy. References Lloyd, C., 2012. What Is Biomedicine?. Health Studies. [Online] Available at: http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/health/health-studies/what-biomedicine [Accessed December 18, 2012]. National Women’s Council of Ireland, 2005. Hear our Voices – Meet our Needs: Women and Health. Report From The Nwci Millennium Project. [Online] Available at: http://www.nwci.ie/download/pdf/women_and_health.pdf [Accessed December 18, 2012]. Nissen, N., 2011. Challenging Perspectives: Women, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and Social Change. Introduction. [Online] Available at: http://www.interfacejournal.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Interface-3-2-Nissen.pdf [Accessed December 18, 2012]. Nettleton, S., 2006. The Sociology of Health and Illness. Polity Press. Ruzek, S. B. & et. al., No Date. Social, Biomedical and Feminist Models of Women’s Health. What is Women’s Health?. [Online] Available at: http://lchc.ucsd.edu/cogn_150/Readings/ruzek/wingard.pdf [Accessed December 18, 2012]. University of Bath, No Date. The Basis of bio-Medicine and Challenges to the Biomedical model. Overview. [Online] Available at: https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=11&cad=rja&ved=0CDMQFjAAOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpeople.bath.ac.uk%2Fssxlw%2F4health.doc&ei=Wg3QUK_FNc_irAevj4GQCg&usg=AFQjCNF7FRXykhQ_1Fh2R3dwYL1H7q722g&sig2=Vo2moCeAlb_4J90kafqRmQ&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.bmk [Accessed December 18, 2012]. University of Reading, 2011. School of Law. The Female Body And Biomedicine: Liberation Or Exploitation?. [Online] Available at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/law/about/news/law-newsarticle_06012012.aspx [Accessed December 18, 2012]. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, 2008. The Era of Biomedicine: Science, Medicine, and Public Health in Britain and France after the Second World War. Articles. [Online] Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2570449/ [Accessed December 18, 2012]. Bibliography Clarke, A. E. & et. al., 2003. Biomedicalization: Technoscientific Transformation of Health, Illness, and U.S. Biomedicine. From Medicalizarion to Biomedicalization. [Online] Available at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/104972974/Biomedicalization-Technoscientific-Transformations-of-Health-Illness-and-u-s-Biomedicine [Accessed December 18, 2012]. Griffths, F. & et. al., 2005. Health Professionals, Their Medical Interventions and Uncertainty: A Study Focusing On Women at Midlife. Social Science & Medicine. Vol. 62, Iss. 5, pp. 1078 – 1090. Sargent, M. G., 2011. Biomedicine and the Human Condition Challenges, Risks and Rewards. Cambridge University Press. Read More