Health issues faced by women in modern day society have been neglected by medical professionals for a long time. We are often told not to pay too much attention to what we read on social media but this has been found to be a very useful way of raising awareness of such issues which may be considered niche in society. The use of certain platforms such as Facebook or X have been proven to form part of a very powerful armoury which enables people to build their knowledge and raise awareness about certain medical issues which may not be covered appropriately in society or through mainstream media outlets.
The founder of Women’s Journal Jennifer Read-Dominguez, has begun a campaign to demand better health care for women. She has put together a detailed argument which lays out the many key features of the shift to the new way of consuming information digitally. People can have access to a number of different sources of information about the topic they want to find out about. Sometimes this can come from a variety of different countries, all round the world. They can then take the appropriate time and space they need to absorb the information properly and keep up to date with the facts and statistics they need to remain fully informed.
Through social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, women are increasingly sharing their health stories, exchanging medical experiences, and crowdsourcing information about conditions doctors often misunderstand or ignore. Medical professionals and society have traditionally downplayed conditions such as endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and often misdiagnosed mental health conditions in women like ADHD and autism. However, social media has made women realise they’re not alone in their struggles thanks to its reach and community.
Jennifer Read-Dominguez, founder of The Women’s Journal, explains how social media is empowering women to close the gender health gap. “Social media has allowed women to reclaim their health narratives. For years, intuitive women who know their bodies have been told by doctors that their pain or concerns were simply ‘in their heads’ or that they’re overreacting. But through the rise of digital and social platforms, women are sharing their stories, and others are recognising their own symptoms through this. This collective voice is leading to increased self-awareness, faster identification of potential health issues, and ultimately more women seeking second opinions or demanding thorough examinations.”
Jennifer continues: “This evolution of digital knowledge (literally in the palm of our hands) is playing a game-changing role in closing the gender health gap. For too long, women have been left with no answers or proper care due to the patriarchy and the medical establishment’s unwillingness and failure to recognise and address women’s unique health challenges. In this digital age of new and relatable social content, more women than ever before are sharing intimate and often invisible struggles, amplifying conversations that were once silenced. Social media is proving to be an empowering lifeline for many women across the globe.”
“Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram aren’t just for entertainment anymore – they’re educational spaces where important conversations take place about mental and physical health,” she continues. “When a woman stumbles across a post that speaks to her lived experience, it can become a moment of realisation or awakening. It makes her realise that she’s not alone, that her symptoms are real, and that other women are also experiencing the same issues as her. That validation is crucial, especially for those whose concerns have been dismissed by trusted healthcare providers.”
The Women’s Journal has recently included a number of different quotes and citations from women all over the world who have had to defend their own health stories after they were dismissed by the medical system. Some of them found solidarity with in small communities using social media and this helped them to build their own self confidence in order to help get the support they needed.
Jennifer Read-Dominguez also points out the possibility of change within the healthcare system itself. “The more women who share their experiences, the more pressure placed on the medical community to listen and evolve. It’s not just about self-diagnosis – it’s about empowerment and the fight for equality in healthcare. With new evidence and confidence in being part of a social community that their women’s intuition was right all along, women can now hold medical professionals accountable – and I’m here for it.”
Women of all generations are taking advantage of social media’s wealth of information and community, from Gen X and millennial women to Gen Z. As the gender health gap slowly narrows, social media continues to be a key tool for educating, supporting, and mobilising all women.
For more information on The Women’s Journal or exclusive expert commentary on all women’s issues, please contact: info@thewomensjournal.co.uk.
