MO Woman

Gender and Health

An Op-Ed piece in the NY Times argues that the medical world is now too focused on women-specific health issues and in the process has neglected men-specific health issues:

Over the past two decades, we've radically revised how we conduct medical research and take care of our female patients. And we've made valuable discoveries about how gender helps determine vulnerability to illness and, ultimately, the timing and causes of death. But I now believe that we doctors and researchers may have focused too much on women.

She suggests the medical world now direct their focus to men's health issues. But why not advocate for equal attention rather than try to promote the needs of one sex above the other?

Revirgination

The Wall Street Journal reports today (subscription required) that there is an new fast-growing market of women interested in having their hymen's restored, in an attempt to have them appear to be virgins again (oxymoron?).

Here is a snippet:

For her 17th wedding anniversary, Jeanette Yarborough wanted to do something special for her husband. In addition to planning a hotel getaway for the weekend, Ms. Yarborough paid a surgeon $5,000 to reattach her hymen, making her appear to be a virgin again.

I am interested in what the halachic perspective on this is and will try to look into it.

Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (it begins tomorrow).

There are all sorts of small and large things one can do this month to contribute to this incredibly worthy cause. When I bought stamps from the post office in New York I always requested the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, through which the U.S. Postal Service donates funds to Breast Cancer research. Also, when I bought my KitchenAid mixer, I chose the light pink color (which, let's face it, is really cute anyway) and KitchenAid donated $50 of my purchase to Breast Cancer Research!

On a more serious note, almost everyone knows someone who has struggled with this disease. As October coincides with the Yamim Noraim, we can also raise our own personal awareness and have those we know in our tefillot this month.

I also just want to highlight the work of Sharsheret, an organization that links and supports young Jewish women battling Breast Cancer.

Women's Center

Thanks to Chayyei Sarah for letting us know about a new women's center called Nashim in Talpiyot, Jerusalem. It sounds fantastic.

Women's Health and Halacha Day

Nishmat's next Women's Health and Halacha Day will take place this Sunday May 15th in Woodmere, NY. Here are the details.