A recent survey from Gallup and Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal found that barriers to healthcare are affecting women’s careers, with many reporting that their health has held them back professionally.
The survey of 5,200 women in the US found that 40% feel their health has held them back in their career – a figure that jumps to 66% for those who feel they haven’t been able to access the care they need. Disproportionately impacted, Black women were up to seven percentage points more likely than white women to report their health affected their career.
Impacting women of all ages, many are unable to access specialty care during critical lifestages from fertility to menopause. Half of women said they’ve had one or more negative healthcare experiences in the last five years, compared to 39% of men. Meanwhile, one in three women have delayed care because of cost, while 16% have delayed due to caregiving responsibilities.
“Barriers to care start before they even get to a doctor’s office,” Gates said in an Instagram reel discussing the survey. “When they get to an appointment, women often get misdiagnosed, have their pain dismissed, or leave without any answers or next steps.”
Struggling to navigate their health, women reported having fewer career options, taking long unpaid leaves, and leaving the workforce or retiring earlier than planned – these outcomes were more common amongst women in lower-income brackets.
Demanding better care, the majority of respondents say women’s health should be a priority for state governments, the federal government, businesses, and philanthropists.
