¡@¡@Since 1995, Taipei Association for the Promotion of Women's Rights (TAPWR) started to hold various activities such as symposium, conferences, speeches, and classes in different communities. From these occasions, we found that most Taiwanese women lack health information and the services available do not satisfy their needs. Therefore, TAPWR decided to raise women's awareness about the right to have control over their own bodies and the right to sufficient medical knowledge. So in 1997, TAPWR invited experts and consultants from backgrounds of medicine, nursing, academia, law, and social service to organize the first women's health hotline in Taiwan. And Women's Health Hotline (WHH) was born on September 30, 1998 after a long year of preparation. Differing from other health hotlines, WHH offers women assistance and moral support in facing the gigantic medical system; furthermore, by compiling and constructing women's own health experiences through individual cases and support groups, a valuable reference is obtained for the governmental agencies when setting regulations.

¡@¡@We discovered from theWHH statistics that, the hotline did not provide service for women under age 19, and the problems they encounter were mostly about pregnancy and lack of knowledge on sex. To further assist young women on these issues, TAPWR launched Teenage Women's Health Hotline (TWHH) on November 1, 1999. The hotline wishes to serve young women going through adolescence, the time when changes accour physically and mentally, and educate them the concept of self health management and the right to their own bodies.

¡@¡@From these statistics of hot lines we find health Status of Taiwanese Women is

1. Overlooked special health problems:

   ¡@¡@Bodily functions specific to women such as menstruation is still a myth in Western medicine; as a result, many women are used to "doctor shopping" when seeking medical attention. In addition, repeated vaginitis (vaginal infections) often cause fear and anxiety for women; however, the treatments are not always carried out properly by the doctors. Headaches, back pain and unknown symptoms caused by long-term stress from the family and societal pressure are often labeled as "non-sense", "hysterics"¡Ketc

2. Severe impact of "overmedicalization" or over medical care system:

   ¡@¡@Menopause and uterine myoma are undoubtedly the most concerned problems of middle-aged women. 70% of women believed that menopause is a natural phenomenon in the aging process, according to TAPWR's "Women's Needs in Health Service in Taipei" survey in 1997. However, the clinical point of view for menopause is "lacking hormones", and physicians encourage women to use HRT in the name of osteoporosis, Alzheimers Disease and even beauty. Women experience anxiety and insecurity when they find their experiences contradict with medical explanations.

   ¡@¡@ We also conclude from their experiences that, almost 90% of the doctors encourage their female patients to have uterus removed when examined for uterine myoma. Some doctors even suggest removing the ovaries altogether. Under doctors' strong "professional opinions" and "tone of threat", middle-aged women in Taiwan are fighting a battle guarding their uteruses.

   ¡@¡@ For women in childbearing age, the responsibility and pressure of 'passing on the family name' force them to get pregnant early in the marriage. Phone calls asking how to be more fertile for pregnancy are not stange to the hotline, and there seems to be more and more 'technology' devoted to enhance women's reproductive ability, which is also likely to be exploited by the over medical system.

3. Lack of attention paid to teenage women's health:

   ¡@¡@The hottest issue for teenage women in the present is contraception; however, the information on contraceptives is more difficult to obtain through official channels than from their peers. According to TWHH's statistics, only 15% of the teenagers are practicing safe sex,. This leads to a very high rate of teen pregnancy and illegal abortions, which the public described as 'September Abortion Wave' (Teenagers were more likely to have sex during summer vacation). On the other hand, more teenage women are becoming obsessed with the myth of 'slim is beauty', and it represents a serious warning for young women not identifying with their body type and lack of self health management.

¡@¡@ After a critical review on the phenomenon of women's health being 'ignored' and 'over-medicalize', we find it tied to women's role in reproduction. As presented in prior analysis, no matter treating menstruation, understanding hormones, or development of reproductive technology, all focus on women's ability to reproduce.

¡@¡@On the contrary, menopause is just as controversial when women retire from their child-bearing duty. It is because the menopause phenomenon remains manipulated by the male-centered thinking of 'young is bearutiful', which shapes the 'ideal' female body. Patriarchy casts its curse on young women with cosmetic technology, and older women with HRT, which makes a million to feed the capitalist monster!

¡@¡@ National women's health policy is unquestionably influenced by patriarchal ideology. In order to break out of women's stereotypical and submissive roles in all aspects of society, it is crucial to include women's voices and experiences in the process of re-establishing the medical system.

¡@¡@Tapwr use several Strategies for Changing the Situation of Women's Health

1. Promotion of women's health rights
   • Provide health information by hotlines
   • Hold speeches, conferences, and classes educate about women's health rights
   • Hold speeches and seminars on sex education and gender equality in schools
   • Edit " The Menopause Handbook" and " Teenage Women's Health Handbook "

2. Constitute the experience of women's health

   ¡@¡@Organize support groups sharing experiences on menstruation and menopause, and constitute women's own experiences against the over medical care system.

3. Active dialogue between medical organizations and international and local women's groups
   • Exchanging dialogues with the medical groups allows women's voices and feelings be understood.
   • By sharing collective experiences, TAPWR is able to grow and advance in women's health movement.

4. Supervise and participate in national women's health policy
   • In 1998, TAPWR launched a large-scale of study on issues concerned with women's health in Taipei City. The results of the study will become important reference and direction for Department of Health in the process of policy making.
   • In 1998-2000, TAPWR held a position on The Committee on the Promotion of women's Rights of Taipei City Government, and with that, we wish to play an active role in drafting the health policy.
   • In 1997, TAPWR formed the Save NHI Alliance with a group of scholars and NGOs to ensure the health benefits of minority groups.
   • TAPWR joined with legislators, lawyers and scholars in GHI, a legislation that legalizes abortion under certain conditions, and ARA, which include provisions for surrogacy.
   • Meeting the Minister and legislators from the state Department of Health with fellow women's groups to address our concerns and opinions on women's health policy.

¡@¡@The situation of Taiwanese women's health is controlled by patriarchal medical care system. In order to provide our female citizens an environment with quality medical care, it can be achieved only by monitoring national policy actively and providing medical knowledge to empower women. Once individual awareness on health rights is raised, we are better prepared to revolutionize the male-centered medical (care) system.

¡@¡@

No.1, Ta Chi Street, Taipei, TAIWAN
TEL: 886-2-25323641¡@FAX: 886-2-25326732
E-mail¡Gtapwer@gcn.net.tw